This page provides information on requirements and suggestions for completing a Starter Kit, answers to frequently asked questions, links to supplemental material, and a glossary of key concepts.
Summary
Skills, Technologies, and Team Members
Skills and Technologies Used in the Starter Kit
General IT System Administration knowledge
Basic Windows Server skills
Knowledge of network configuration or access to those resources, especially if you will use your own custom names for DNS (Internet Domain Name Services)
Basic knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server
System Requirements to Complete the Starter Kit
Windows Server 2016-2019
Administrator access (ask your IT administrators if you need assistance)
Pre-configured Windows/workstation firewall and access settings
secure passwords will be required
At least 4 GB of RAM available (8-16 GB preferred)
At least 50 GB free storage space
Network security and isolation
Outbound internet access
Inbound access to HTTP/HTTPS ports on server
Optional: DNS Hostname for SSL configuration
Optional: Advanced network configuration with reverse proxies and web filtering for additional security
*System requirements for the alternate deployment options presented in the Setup Guide may vary from those above. These additional requirements are indicated in the Setup Guide where applicable.
Software Installed by Completing the Starter Kit
See details in Starter Kit Specific Reference.
Suggested Team Member Involvement
See details in the Starter Kit Specific Reference.
Vendor Configuration Guides & Support
PowerSchool
Infinite Campus SIS
Skyward SIS
Eagle Software / Aeries SIS
Contact Aeries at support@aeries.com for configuration issues and technical support.
Edupoint Synergy SIS
Connect to the Edupoint customer FTP site for releases and configuration information, using the Edupoint provided username and password.
Connect to the Edupoint customer support site for technical support questions, using your Edupoint login name and password.
The selected vendor must either be currently certified in accordance with the Ed-Fi Assessment Outcomes API for Suite 3 Certification (found here on Ed-Fi's TechDocs) or attain certification within 3 months of the RFP being awarded. The selected vendor must also maintain a current Ed-Fi Certification and support ongoing updates to match updates to the Ed-Fi Data Standard and Assessment Certification Requirements.
We strongly recommend including language that SPECIFICALLY calls out the V3 Assessment Certification for ANY vendor awarded the contract. It ensures they comply rather than treating it as a nice to have if we get around to it.
System Architecture
Vendors must describe the system architecture degree of "openness" and adherence to industry standard hardware, software, security and communications protocols.
Vendors must describe the hosting environment options.
Vendors must describe how components of the proposed architecture will remain current and supported to avoid becoming obsolete.
Vendors must provide an overview of how major hardware and software components are layered and used within the architecture.
Vendors must identify and describe the primary underlying development programming language(s), integrated development environment (IDE), and component server environment used to produce tailored or customized components of the proposed solution.
The Vendors’ system must have the ability to integrate or interface with an Ed-Fi REST API and optionally produce Ed-Fi XML. In addition, Contractor should list any integration with other common systems. Contractor must commit to supporting native integration via the State Standard, which are the State’s extensions to the Ed-Fi REST API and optionally Ed-Fi XML. Updates to State Specifications will be published for every year. Contractor must commit to continuing to support annual updates to State Specifications.