ACME Tools

Executive Summary

Problem Solved

PowerSchool administrators often struggle with understanding complex system configurations and analyzing detailed administrative data across their environment. ACME Tools provides comprehensive visibility into security configurations, user permissions, plugin management, and system analysis that are otherwise difficult to access or analyze through standard PowerSchool interfaces.

Key Benefits

Target Users

System Administrators District Technology Directors PowerSchool Support Staff Compliance Officers

Integration

ACME Tools integrates seamlessly with PowerSchool's existing framework, providing analysis and reporting capabilities without modifying any system configurations. All reports and tools are generated from live PowerSchool database queries and system configurations.

Installation & Setup

Prerequisites

• PowerSchool SIS system administrator access
• Plugin installation permissions
• System > Management section access

Installation Steps

1. Download the ACME Tools plugin file (.zip)
2. Navigate to Plugin Management Configuration
3. Click Install Plugin
4. Upload the ACME Tools plugin file
5. Verify installation by checking for "ACME Tools" in the System > Management section

Navigation & Access

Accessing ACME Tools

Once installed, ACME Tools appears in the System Management section with a convenient navigation dropdown on each report page, allowing quick access to any tool within the suite.

Administrative Reports & Tools

ACME Tools currently provides a suite of security analysis reports. The framework is designed to accommodate additional administrative tools and reports as needed for PowerSchool system management.

Security Analysis Reports

Field Level Security Reports

Field Security by Role

Analyzes field-level permissions for specific roles and plugins against database tables. This report helps administrators understand what data access each role provides.

Key Features:

• Plugin/Role dropdown selection
• Database table filtering
• Field-by-field access level display (No access, Read only, Edit)
• Real-time permission analysis

Field Security Grid

Comprehensive grid view showing all field-level security configurations across the system with advanced filtering capabilities.

Key Features:

• Searchable filter box for quick location of specific fields or roles
• Sortable columns for Role/Plugin, Database Table, Database Field, and Access Level
• Pagination for large datasets (1-10 of 51 items shown)
• Export capabilities for compliance reporting

User & Role Management Reports

Page Permissions Report

Hierarchical view of page-level permissions for individual users across schools and roles.

Key Features:

• User selection dropdown with school filtering
• Role ID and name display with default role indicators
• Color-coded permission summary (No Access, Read Only, Edit, Total Pages)
• Expandable/collapsible permission tree (Main, Student, Staff sections)
• Detailed page-level permission indicators

User Role Audit

Comprehensive audit of all users, their roles, PowerTeacher Pro access, and multi-school assignments.

Key Features:

• Basic filter for quick user searches
• User details including Title and Default Group
• PowerTeacher Pro Admin View access indicator
• Role count and assignment tracking
• Pagination for large user databases (1-10 of 1050 items shown)

Plugin Security Analysis

Plugin Security Report

Detailed analysis of all installed plugins including security configurations, OAuth settings, and CDN access.

Key Features:

• Plugin version tracking and update monitoring
• Publisher information and contact details
• Security status indicators (Enabled, Hidden, OAuth, CDN)
• Visual status indicators (✓ for enabled, ✗ for disabled)
• Filter by plugin name or version

Status Indicator	Meaning	Security Implication
Enabled ✓	Plugin is active and functional	Plugin has access to configured permissions
Hidden ✗	Plugin is not visible in standard menus	Reduces UI clutter, maintains backend functionality
OAuth ✓	Plugin has OAuth authentication configured	External API access is enabled
CDN ✓	Plugin uses Content Delivery Network resources	External resource dependencies present

Best Practices

System Administration Workflow

1. Regular System Reviews: Use ACME Tools reports to monitor system configurations and permission changes
2. User Role Validation: Regularly audit user roles and access levels, especially after staff changes or system updates
3. Plugin Management: Review plugin installations, permissions, and configurations when implementing new tools
4. Compliance Documentation: Export reports for compliance, auditing, and documentation purposes
5. Proactive Monitoring: Establish regular review schedules for critical system configurations

Performance Optimization

• Use filters to limit large datasets when possible
• Run comprehensive reports during off-peak hours
• Export data for offline analysis of complex system configurations
• Favorite frequently used reports for quick access

Administrative Recommendations

• Regularly review plugins with OAuth access or external integrations
• Monitor users with multiple role assignments across schools
• Document any custom configurations or specialized setups
• Maintain regular export schedules for compliance and backup purposes
• Use reports to identify potential system optimization opportunities

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Reports Not Loading

• Verify administrator permissions are assigned to your user account
• Check that the plugin is enabled in Plugin Management Configuration
• Ensure browser JavaScript is enabled

Large Dataset Performance

• Use the filter options to narrow results
• Allow additional time for complex queries to complete
• Consider running reports during low-usage periods

Missing Data in Reports

• Verify that field-level security is properly configured in PowerSchool
• Check that plugins are properly installed and configured
• Ensure user role assignments are current