Integrations

How your SIS should work
with Google Classroom.

Google Classroom is the most-used LMS in K‑12. If your district runs on Google, SIS integration is not optional. Here's how it actually works.

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The short answer

The SIS integrates with Google Classroom in one of three ways: native OneRoster integration (supported by Google Classroom for certain SIS platforms), Clever as middleware, or ClassLink as middleware. Native OneRoster is the cleanest option when your SIS supports it. All three flow student, teacher, class, and enrollment data from the SIS to Google Classroom automatically, keeping rosters current.

The Google Classroom picture

Google Classroom is the LMS your district probably uses.

For districts standardized on Google Workspace for Education, Google Classroom is nearly universal. It handles course content, assignments, and student-teacher interaction. The SIS handles student records, enrollment, grades of record, and reporting. Getting these two systems to work together is one of the most common K‑12 integration challenges.

What the integration should do:

  • Roster sync: Students and teachers automatically enrolled in the right Google Classroom classes based on SIS data
  • Class creation: New sections in the SIS create corresponding Google Classroom classes
  • Real-time updates: Mid-year enrollment changes flow to Google Classroom within a defined sync window
  • Grade passback (optional): Grades from Google Classroom flow back to the SIS gradebook of record
  • Single sign‑on: Students and teachers use Google accounts across both systems

What it does not do:

  • Replace the SIS gradebook (Google Classroom is not the gradebook of record)
  • Handle attendance (that stays in the SIS)
  • Manage transcripts, state reporting, or family communication

Common questions, answered directly.

First, native OneRoster: Google Classroom directly supports OneRoster from certain SIS platforms (as of the 2024 update, PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Skyward SMS, Skyward Qmlativ, and Follett Aspen). Second, Clever as middleware: Clever pulls roster data from your SIS and syncs it to Google Classroom. Third, ClassLink as middleware: similar to Clever but the district pays directly for the service.

If your SIS supports native OneRoster to Google Classroom, that's usually the cleanest. Fewer moving parts, faster syncs, and one less vendor in the chain. If not, Clever is free for districts (funded by app developers) but ClassLink typically offers more granular controls and deeper identity management. Both work well.

Typically overnight, though some setups support near-real-time syncs. Changes made in the SIS during the day usually appear in Google Classroom by the next morning. Teachers can manually add students to bridge the gap for same-day enrollments. Manual additions persist and don't get overwritten by the next sync.

Alma supports both overnight and near-real-time sync configurations depending on district preference - ask specifically which option fits your enrollment volatility during your evaluation.

It depends on your district's grading workflow. If teachers use Google Classroom as their primary gradebook, grade passback to the SIS makes sense. If they use the SIS gradebook and only use Google Classroom for content and assignments, no. Districts that try to sync bidirectionally without clear rules end up with data conflicts. Pick one system as the gradebook of record.

No. This surprises districts moving from Canvas or Schoology. Google Classroom uses API-based integrations rather than LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability). Third-party tools that expect LTI need to integrate via Google's API instead, which is a different technical model. Ask your ed-tech vendors specifically whether they support Google Classroom's API.

Multi-LMS districts need an SIS that supports multiple LMS integrations simultaneously. Some elementary schools use Google Classroom while high schools use Canvas, for example. The SIS should be able to sync roster data to both simultaneously without conflicts. Ask specifically during evaluation if you have a mixed environment.

Yes. Alma supports Google Classroom integration through multiple pathways depending on district preference and infrastructure. Rostering, class creation, and SSO all work as expected. Ask specifically about the integration approach that fits your district's existing setup.

Ask Alma to demonstrate the exact Google Classroom integration workflow your district would use, including handling of mid‑year enrollments and roster changes.

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Related guides

Clever vs. ClassLink for K‑12 Rostering
What Is OneRoster and Why Does It Matter
LMS vs. SIS: What's the Difference