System Integrations Dos and Don'ts

✅ Integration Do’s

🔄 Sharing & Sync Best Practices

• Do check your sharing rules: Share only the necessary schools, users, and sections with Newsela to avoid syncing extra data or missing key info.

• Do coordinate the timing of sharing changes: Unsharing and resharing in Clever or ClassLink mid-year can result in disruption and unintentionally archived classes.

  • Example: If a student changes classes, the change won’t appear in Newsela until after the nightly sync.

• Do not change sharing rules without a plan (see Don’ts).

📊 SIS & Data Accuracy

• Do check the accuracy and validity of your SIS before syncing to Clever or Classlink and sharing to Newsela.

  • Verify school names, user emails (teachers and students), and course names are up to date and consistent.

  • Ensure course sections include a current school year or academic session date range.

• Do ensure courses are up to date.

• Note: Shared data in Newsela is derived from your SIS. Changes must be applied in the SIS.

• FYI: Teachers can update class names manually in Newsela without affecting future syncs.

👥 Admin & IT Involvement

• Do actively review and update your School Admins:

  • Ensure each admin has the correct role and is intentionally shared.

• Do involve your IT team early:

  • Make sure they are aware of your Newsela implementation and are listed during implementation for smoother troubleshooting.

🧭 Setup & Deployment

• Do review your platform-specific Getting Started Guide:
  https://support.newsela.com/category/system-steup-integrations/

• Do ensure the Newsela app is deployed in your Clever or ClassLink portal and made available to the correct users.

📣 Communication

• Do communicate clearly with your teachers:

  • Use communication kits and internal channels to inform them:

    • When syncs will happen

    • How to log in

    • What to expect regarding class visibility

❌ Integration Don’ts

• Do not change sharing rules without a plan:

  • Sudden unsharing or resharing can lead to class/data confusion. Always coordinate updates carefully.

• Do not skip post-sharing verification:

  • After sharing changes, spot-check data for a few users (admin, teacher, student) to confirm accuracy.

📝 Additional Notes

• If you use Google Workplace, ensure Newsela is a trusted app.

• Make sure teachers are validated users in your system.

• If using Canvas or Google Classroom, inform teachers there is a manual sync requirement.

  • Tip: Utilize the email communication templates we’ve drafted in the Communication Kits!