Understanding Due Dates in eSchoolware
Teachers in eSchoolware can use two types of due dates to manage assignments and student pacing: Section-Level Due Dates and Cascading (Personalized) Due Dates.
Jump to Section:
- Types of Due Dates
- When is a zero assigned?
- Can I turn this feature on or off?
- Do assigned zeros count as an attempt?
- What happens with diagnostic assessments?
- Summary Table
Types of Due Dates
Section-Level Due Dates
- Applied to all students within a course section.
- Ensures consistency across the entire class.
- Applied by the teacher, in the Gradebook -> Edit Item
Navigation:
Select an assessment in the Gradebook by clicking on the assessment label.
Add a due date using the calendar tool and click Save.
Individual Due Dates/Custom Due Dates
- Applied to a specific student and specific assessment
- Must be set manually by the teacher of the course
- Can be utilized where needed
Navigation:
Navigate to a student's gradebook (Student Details page) and click the pencil to edit Due Dates.
Enter the desired due date, then click the Save button.
Cascading (Personalized) Due Dates
- Applied to students with individual start and end dates.
- Advisors or administrators set the start and end dates during enrollment.
- Teachers must apply study planner due dates in the student’s gradebook.
- Aligns assignments to each student’s personal pacing window.
Navigation:
Navigate to a student's gradebook (Student Details page) and click on Study Planner.
Click Apply to Due Dates to add the planned completion dates in the Study Planner as personalized due dates for the student's gradebook.
Tip: Use cascading due dates to accommodate students who start courses at different times.
When is a zero assigned?
- The system automatically assigns a zero when an assignment’s due date passes.
- Example: An assignment due May 21, 2025 will receive a zero on May 22, 2025 if not submitted.
Important: Zeros are applied automatically only after the due date has passed.
Can I turn this feature on or off?
- The automatic zero feature is off by default.
- It is activated when the teacher applies due dates to the student’s gradebook.
- Individual due dates can be modified or deleted.
- Section-level due dates do not reflect personalized student start/end dates.
Tip: Review all personalized due dates after diagnostics are completed to ensure accuracy.
Do assigned zeros count as an attempt?
- Yes. The zero uses one of the student’s available attempts (typically 2 or 3).
- Teachers can archive or create additional attempts if needed.
Important: Automatically assigned zeros will reduce the student’s remaining attempts.
What happens with diagnostic assessments?
- If a student has a diagnostic, the gradebook is not created until the diagnostic is completed or the assigned due date passes.
- Exempted lessons are automatically skipped.
- Once the diagnostic is complete, the Study Planner is generated based on the student’s start and end dates.
- Teachers must Apply Due Dates, which only affect required assessments.
Tip: Always apply due dates after diagnostics are completed to ensure pacing aligns with student needs.
Summary Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Section-Level Due Dates | Apply to all students in a section |
| Individual Due Dates | Manually applied for a specific student and assessment |
| Cascading Due Dates | Personalized per student based on start/end dates |
| Automatic Zero Assignment | Occurs after due date passes |
| Feature Default | Off — activated when teacher applies due dates |
| Affects Attempts | Yes — zero uses one attempt |
| Diagnostics Handling | Due dates apply after diagnostic completion and gradebook creation |
Tip: For courses with staggered student start dates, using cascading due dates ensures fair pacing and grading.