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Family Portal

Show All Answers

1. What is Aspen?

Aspen is a secure, Web-based school information management system produced by X2 Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Follett Software Company, for schools and school districts. The system manages all facets of student data – from attendance to conduct, grades and schedules.

Andover Public Schools has been using Aspen since 2008 with success. We are now implementing the Family Portal so parents, teachers, and administrators can work together and communicate more effectively and efficiently.

2. Who can access Aspen?

Aspen accounts will be issued to the primary contact listed for each child. Each student will also receive a login.

3. How do I access the portal?

Simply visit the website: https://ma-andover.myfollett.com

4. Where can I access it?

You can access Aspen from any computer or device with internet access. Aspen does use pop-ups, so you may need to allow your browser to open them.

5. What do I do if I can’t connect to the website?

Aspen is available 24x7, but it will occasionally have down time for updates. We will post notifications 'In the Spotlight' section of the Home Page before these occur and they will normally happen after 11:00 pm. If you find you cannot connect, please wait 24 hours and attempt to access the site again.

6. What do I do if I cannot remember or have not received my login name?

Please contact Infosys@aps1.net. Upon verification of your identity, you will be provided with your login name.

7. What do I do if I have forgotten my password?

If you have logged in previously, you can use the “Forgot My Password” link on the login page. It will ask you the security question that was established on a previous login. Once you enter the correct answer, an email will be sent to the primary email listed with a temporary password.

8. Aspen is telling me that my account is disabled. What do I do?

To protect your security, if the wrong password is entered 5 times, your account will be disabled. Should this happen, please email InfoSys@aps1.net from one of the email accounts on record for your child with your student’s name and your current login name. This will help us verify that the account is secure and that the appropriate individual is receiving the account information.

9. I have more than one student attending Andover Public Schools. Do I have to have separate accounts for each student?

No, all of your students can be included under one account. If you receive more than one login, or if you do not see all of your children on your current account, please email InfoSys@aps1.net with your name, as well as the names of your children.

10. Where can I find information on using the portal?

Aspen is easy to navigate. The data is secure and view-only. Feel free to explore. If you have a question about how to do something, go to the Help menu for the following options:

Online Help: Click to open online help, then click Using the Student and Family Portal. A table of contents, index, and search feature make it easy to find the information you need.

User Guides: Click to open, download, and print a PDF version of Using the Family Portal.

Quick Reference Cards: Select a topic to view a quick reference card.

11. Can I change my security question? What about my password?

Yes! Just click on the “Set Preferences” link at the top right corner of the Aspen screen. From the “Security” tab, you can change your password and security question/answer.

12. What do I do if I have a question about my child’s attendance record?

Please contact your student’s school's main office.

13. Why is my child’s grade so low today when it was much higher a week ago?

Grades can fluctuate throughout the course due to factors like weighting and missing
assignments. Aspen will always give you a running average based on the information currently recorded in the Grade book. For instance, if a project is used to demonstrate learning for several weeks during a class, the teacher could weight it as being the most important factor in the student’s grade. If the student does poorly on the project, or does not turn it in, that will significantly lower the overall grade in the class.

14. What do I do if I have a question about my child’s grades?

Grade questions should be addressed with the teacher for that specific course.

15. Why can I see more current grade information in one class than in another?

Each teacher will determine the frequency with which he or she updates grades. He or she should provide you with information on those expectations at the beginning of the course.

16. I want to show someone my child’s grades. Should I just give them my Aspen login?

Never provide someone else with your login! Andover Public Schools takes great care to ensure that your child’s privacy is being respected and the information is handled on a need to know basis. Not every staff member will have access to your child’s information, and even your child’s teacher may not have all of the information available that you can see. Grade information is private and considered confidential. It should not be used to compare students, teachers, and/or schools. Parents and students will be expected to act in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner. Inappropriate use could result in the cancellation of your Aspen account.

17. How do I update my information (Set Preferences)?

The first time you log in to the APS Aspen Family Portal, you should update your security information. This allows you to request a Temporary Password should you forget your Password.

1. In the top right corner of the page, click Set Preferences.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. Enter your Primary email.
4. Select a Security question.
5. Enter you Security answer.
6. Enter and Confirm answer.
7. Click OK. You will return to your Family Portal page.

18. How do I change my password or email address?

After you login, click Set Preferences in the upper-right corner of the screen. Click the Security Tab to edit your email, select and answer a security question, and change your password or email.

19. Is my child’s information secure?

Aspen protects your student's information with the same
advanced technology your bank uses to protect your financial
accounts. Rest assured that all Aspen users only have access to
information they need, and nothing more. We have carefully
configured the system to ensure that your student’s information
is confidential and can only be retrieved by you – the
parent/guardian – and authorized school personnel.