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Start tracking attendance in brightwheel

[For Admins + Managers] Learn about brightwheel's check-in experience!

Dominique M. avatar
Written by Dominique M.
Updated yesterday

With brightwheel’s digital attendance features, child drop-off and pick-up are easier, faster, and more secure than ever!

Families can digitally check their child in and out without the hassle of paper sign-in sheets, using a check-in kiosk or scannable QR code. Staff can also check children in and out.

For added peace of mind, families must enter their unique check-in code before checking a student in/out, and providers can tailor security settings with options like mandatory digital signatures and customizable health checks.

ℹ️ To learn more about staff check-in, please visit Staff Check-in Overview.


Available attendance features

Check-in kiosk

Administrators and staff can set up a check-in Kiosk on the mobile app for student contacts to securely check their child in and out during the day. A check-in code is required to complete a check-in, but there are additional requirements that can be enforced to meet the needs of the center:

Providers can enable additional features to appear on the kiosk at check-in:

  • Digital Signatures - Require student contacts sign their digital signature at pick-up and drop-off

  • Quick Scan - Student contacts can scan a printed, or digitally displayed QR code for touchless check-in

  • Health Screen - Collect additional health information at check-in

ℹ️ Learn more about how to Set Up Check-in Kiosk.

QR code quick scan

Programs can opt for a digital QR code on a kiosk or a printed QR code for student check-ins. Contacts can scan it using the brightwheel app, enter their 4-digit check-in code, and fulfill additional requirements like Digital Signatures and Health Screens.

ℹ️ Learn more about Quick Scan Management and steps to access the QR code.

Staff take attendance

Brightwheel's Attendance Mode feature allows staff to internally track the whereabouts of each student throughout the day. Staff can check students in and out, move them to different rooms that the student is assigned to, or mark them absent.

Programs can control whether contacts are notified when logging student attendance in the check-in settings.

ℹ️ Explore Attendance Mode for instructions on how staff can check students in and out.


How check-in codes work

To initiate a check-in/out from a kiosk, contacts will be required to enter their check-in code. Users receive a unique check-in code upon creating their account, which can be customized and should be kept confidential. In certain states, these codes are accepted as a digital signature equivalent.

It’s important to note that check-in codes are not required when scanning a QR code to initiate a check-in/out.

Locate a check-in code on behalf of a student contact

Student contacts can locate their check-in code within their brightwheel account or you can view it as a provider.

  1. Login to brightwheel from a web browser

  2. Click on My School > Parents from the side menu

  3. Select the tab Parents, Family, or Approved Pickups at the top to select the contact type

  4. Under the Check-in Code column on the right side of the page, click Reveal All

ℹ️ For instructions on how families and staff can find and edit their code, visit Locate and Edit Check-in Code.


Family resources

Parent, Family, and Approved-pickup contacts can check students in and out of their assigned rooms. If a room is missing, please ensure the child is assigned correctly.

For detailed instructions on checking a child in and out, direct contacts to our Check in Students as Guardian resource.


How attendance reporting works

All check-in data is automatically recorded, giving administrators real-time visibility into attendance and room ratios needed for licensing and tuition billing,

Visit Reports & Data Overview to learn more about how providers can export check-in/out data, or print attendance sign-in sheets to meet their unique needs.


Additional check-in features

Click to learn more about a specific feature.

Drop off forms

Drop-off forms allow guardians to provide extra details like wake-up time, last meal, bathroom use, optional pickup time, or leave a custom note during check-in. During check-in, or pick-up, guardians can tap the pencil & paper icon next to the child's name to fill it out.

The provided details become part of the check-in record, visible on the student's feed for both staff and parents.

Digital signatures

Require student contacts digitally sign their signature each time they check their child in and out. Please visit our Digital Signatures resource for more information and steps on enabling this feature.

Health screenings

Require student contacts complete a health questionnaire upon check-in. Get notified when students fail the screening to ensure the wellness of your students and staff!

Please visit our Check-In Health Screening Questionnaire resource for steps on enabling this feature.

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