# Connect Verkada Guest to PowerSchool

PowerSchool is a popular school information system used by admins, teachers, and students. Verkada Guest can connect with a school district’s PowerSchool Server to sync school data including student, guardian, and attendance code information. Using this integration allows schools to build out school-specific Guest Types for late arrivals, guardian pickups, and more.

***

## Setup

### Download the Verkada Guest plugin for PowerSchool

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need **Org Admins** permissions to download the Verkada Guest plugin for PowerSchool.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace > Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the left navigation, click Guest Settings.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Organization, select Schools.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select Download PowerSchool Plugin.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Install the Verkada Guest plugin

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Log in to PowerSchool as an administrator.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click System Management > Server > Plugin Configuration.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click Install.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Plugin Installation File, click Choose File.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select the downloaded Verkada Guest plugin (.zip file) from your device and click Open (do not unzip the file and install the .XML file).** 

{% hint style="warning" %}
It may take a few minutes for the plugin to install.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**From the Plugin Configuration page, check the box to enable the plugin.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the sidebar that opens, click Enable.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Get Client ID and Client Secret for the plugin

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In PowerSchool, click System Management > Server > Plugin Configuration.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select the Verkada Guest plugin to take you to the plugin summary page.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**At the bottom, select Data Provider Configuration.**

On this page, Client ID and Client Secret can be retrieved.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

### Connect a PowerSchool Server to Verkada Command

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need **Org Admins** permissions to connect a PowerSchool Server to Command.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Workplace > Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the left navigation, click Guest Settings.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Organization, select Schools.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select Sync students with PowerSchool.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Enter the Client ID, Client Secret, and PowerSchool Server URL.**

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><img src="/files/OBcfDcqIHkvh3ttwMna0" alt=""></div>

{% hint style="warning" %}
The PowerSchool Server URL is the address you use to access your PowerSchool admin portal.<br>

To obtain this value, log in to PowerSchool in your web browser and copy the URL directly from the address bar.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click Sync.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## Link schools to Guest sites

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need **Org Admins** permissions to link PowerSchool schools to Guest sites.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the left navigation, click Guest Settings.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Organization, select Schools.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Sync students with PowerSchool, select Manage Schools.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Links schools to Guest sites. When finished, select the checkmark in the top right.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## Configure Guest Types to write Attendance Codes

{% hint style="danger" %}
You need at least **Workplace Site Admin** permissions to modify Guest Type settings.
{% endhint %}

Verkada Guest can optionally write back daily attendance codes to PowerSchool for [School Guest Types](/guest/schools/school-guest-types.md).

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Guest.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**On the left navigation, click Guest Settings.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Under Sites > Guest Types, click Manage Guest Types.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select an existing School Guest Type, or create a new one.**
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Click Attendance Code.**

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><img src="/files/10WmkWCIVnu0MY8Y4uch" alt=""></div>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select an attendance recording method.**

* **Daily Attendance:** select one attendance code.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Any sign-in using a Guest Type with a daily attendance code automatically writes the code back to PowerSchool for the current day.
{% endhint %}

* **Meeting Attendance:** select an attendance code for the current meeting and optionally apply attendance codes to all previous or future meetings.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Verkada Guest only supports Meeting and Daily attendance recording methods. A single Guest Type can only use one attendance recording method.
{% endhint %}

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/CrmrWemcEicbWcXRTOCj" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**In the top right, click Save.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

***

## FAQ

<details>

<summary>What is a PowerSchool Server URL?</summary>

A PowerSchool Server URL refers to the URL for the PowerSchool admin portal. this URL is unique to a PowerSchool Server.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can Global Guest Types be configured with attendance codes?</summary>

No, only site-level School Guest Types can be configured with attendance codes.

</details>

<details>

<summary>A guardian-student association seems to be incorrect or missing.</summary>

Verkada associates a guardian with a student only if the guardian contact:

* Has the **Active** box checked
* Has the **School Pickup** flag set to **True** for the desired student

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/eCfGnVlsC7a2ZztpGkaI" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

</details>

<details>

<summary>How can I check if my school records attendance in a way that Verkada supports?</summary>

PowerSchool features multiple attendance recording methods. Verkada Guest supports writing attendance codes back to schools that have **Daily** and/or **Meeting** enabled for attendance recording.

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><img src="/files/GXL6dj0Z9FXtanywF3Tb" alt="" width="563"></div>

See more about configuring attendance recording in PowerSchool [here](https://ps.powerschool-docs.com/pssis-admin/24.3/attendance-preferences).&#x20;

</details>

<details>

<summary>Does the Attendance Code feature write to Clock In and Clock Out times in PowerSchool?</summary>

No, Verkada Guest does not populate Clock In or Clock Out times when writing attendance codes back to PowerSchool.

</details>


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