Changing your SIS is a once-in-a-decade decision—and let’s be honest, no one looks forward to it. But sometimes it’s the only way to move your district forward.
And the right move can unlock better data, simpler workflows, and real progress for your district.
If you’re heading into conference season with an open mind about exploring new systems, here’s what to ask (and what really matters) before you buy:
1. Know Your “Why?”
It may seem obvious but before you even step onto a conference show floor, get clear on why you’re exploring a new SIS.
Getting clear about your priorities will help you choose the right software and will in turn help build community buy-in when it comes time to implement and roll it out.
Ask yourself:
- Is it data headaches? Reporting stress? Too many logins/clicks?
2. Think Consolidation (Not Unicorns)
Which tools can you realistically replace with this move?
No SIS does everything. If one claims to, it usually means duct-taped features, clunky integrations, and the same high costs as piecing together tools you actually like.
But your new SIS should offer you the opportunity to bring many of your most crucial systems together. This could mean offering native academic tools like an MTSS or LMS, or HR and business systems.
If the SIS you are considering does not offer the chance to consolidate anything, it’s likely you will not see the strategic improvements you are looking for.
Ask vendors:
- Which specific tools (LMS, MTSS, HR, Special Ed) can we replace?
- Will this system integrate easily with our favorite edtech tools we do not want to give up (ex: Google Classroom, Clever, Kami)?
3. Compare New Jersey Focused SIS vs. National Provider
National SIS platforms may check boxes, but will they keep pace withrequirements? If they don’t have a state-specific roadmap, you’re signing up for workarounds.
Ask vendors:
- How fast do you update for NJSLEDS/TIDE changes?
- Do you have a New Jersey State Reporting Team or advisory board?
- Can you show me the actual state reports NJ districts are submitting today?
4. Look for a Partnership, Not Just a Purchase
The best SIS partners listen to your challenges, help solve real problems, and collaborate on building tools that move education forward. You want a company that sees your district as part of its roadmap, not just its customer list.
Ask vendors:
- What is the implementation process like?
- What’s your average support response time?
- Is there a dedicated state-specific customer success team?
5. Weigh Organic Growth vs. Acquisition Growth
Not all SIS companies grow the same way and it matters more than you think.
Organic growth means a company built its product, team, and customer base over time. Every feature was developed in-house, usually shaped by customer feedback and a single codebase.
Acquisition growth means a company grew by buying other products and stitching them together.Acquired platforms often feel like three systems in a trench coat; leading to overlapping modules, multiple logins, and delayed updates when one part changes.
Support teams at organic companies know the product because they helped build it. In acquired systems, support can get fragmented across legacy tools.
And while acquired platforms often shift direction after mergers, organic ones evolve steadily with their users.
Ask Vendors:
- How much of your platform was built internally vs. acquired?
- When was your last acquisition (or when/who acquired your company), and how did it impact customers?
- Are your core tools—Gradebook, LMS, State Reporting —on one system or multiple legacy ones?
- How often do you sunset or rebrand modules?
6. Don’t Underestimate the Cost of Doing Nothing
When you start talking to vendors, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, switching systems can seem risky — and sticking with the status quo feels safe.
But here’s the truth: doing nothing has a cost too.
Every year you stay with a system that frustrates teachers, slows down data access, or hides student insights, that’s time and progress lost.
Look down the road ten years — how many opportunities to improve instruction, attendance, or family engagement will you have missed?
Your SIS can either hold your district back or help you reach your goals:
- Improving attendance with early warning data
- Tracking student growth without getting buried in spreadsheets
- Raising graduation rates through better intervention visibility
So before you walk away thinking “doing nothing is easier,”
ask yourself:
- What’s the long-term cost of staying where we are?
Considering OnCourse
When you start comparing SIS options, you’ll notice a clear divide: national systems that grew by acquisition, and homegrown platforms that evolved with their schools.
OnCourse was founded right here in New Jersey—and we’ve stayed focused on serving the state’s districts ever since. With over 200 New Jersey schools on board, our growth has come from district partnerships, not purchases.
We’re an organically grown company, not a collection of acquired products. Every tool, from our Early Warning System to Student Story, was built in-house through close collaboration with local educators. That means every click, workflow, and report was designed to solve real challenges in New Jersey schools.
Our foundation has always been academics and student growth. You’ll find our strongest tools where it matters most: in tracking interventions, monitoring progress, and giving teachers actionable insight into every learner.
Behind it all is a dedicated state reporting team that keeps you ahead of New Jersey’s ever-changing requirements, so your staff can focus on students, not spreadsheets.
If you’re looking for a partner who listens, builds, and grows with you, watch a short preview of OnCourse SIS. You can also find us at NJSBA Workshop booth #619 or book a meeting anytime.
