Edgecombe County schools are switching to a new database program that will impact the look of report cards, transcripts and the accessibility of student data by teachers.

The switch is reflective of a change that school districts across the state are making or have already made.

The state gave districts the option of using a state approved accounting software system or use their recommendation, NC WISE, which Edgecombe County schools have opted to use.

"They left it up to the districts what they're going to use but NC WISE is what the state is using," said SIMS Coordinator Patricia Benbow.

The districts that chose to use NC WISE were split into three groups that would implement the conversion at separate times over the course of two years. Edgecombe is in the last group for the conversions.

The current database program Student Information Management System (SIMS) is a command-based program that has been in use since 1984. Benbow said that the system needed to be updated.

NC WISE, which stands for North Carolina Window of Information on Student Education, is an Internet-based program, which uses a point and click method rather than command.

The new system will give the schools more storage for data, accessibility anywhere the Internet is available, consistency in student ID numbers in transfers from one district to another, and more access of data for teachers.

"Teachers will have access to the database at conferences to review student data with parents," Benbow said.

Teachers will now have the ability to enter student attendance and grades into the system, which was formerly done by the SIMS Data Manager at each school.

Impacts that NC WISE will have on students, and parents will be a new layout in report cards.

Director of Accountability Janet Morris presented a proposed layout of report cards at the Dec. 8 board meeting.

After board members expressed the need for the report cards to be easy for parents to understand, Morris said that she would present a new layout to them with more detailed information.

NC WISE system provides the option of making the report cards very detailed or not with short and full subject names, 250 comments for parent and/or teachers, and a legend for abbreviations.

"Eventually, we will have electronic transcripts," Benbow said.