Buyer's Guide

What to ask
SIS references.

Reference calls are one of the most useful inputs in an SIS decision - and one of the easiest to conduct badly. Here's how to do them well.

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The short answer

Ask reference customers open-ended questions about the actual experience: what surprised them, what they wish they had known, how implementation actually went, and whether they would buy the platform again. Avoid yes/no questions and vendor-friendly framings. Talk to references the vendor didn't hand-pick when possible. Take handwritten notes and compare across references - patterns matter more than any single call.

Why references matter

References tell you what the demo can't.

A demo shows you what the platform can do in a controlled environment. References tell you what the platform actually does in real district operations. The vendor manages the demo; reference customers have lived with the reality.

How to run better reference calls:

  • Ask for the right references: Similar district size, similar state, similar program mix
  • Ask for references beyond vendor curation: Peer networks, state associations, or your own connections
  • Talk to multiple roles: Not just the superintendent, but the registrar, IT director, and a teacher
  • Ask open-ended questions: Not "is support good" but "tell me about the last time you needed support"
  • Ask about the difficult moments: Implementation delays, data migration challenges, state reporting issues
  • Compare across references: Patterns across 3-5 calls are more meaningful than any single opinion

Common questions, answered directly.

Why did you choose this vendor over alternatives? What surprised you during implementation? What would you do differently now? Has the platform met the promises the vendor made? How has your board perceived the decision? Would you choose this vendor again knowing what you know now?

How is the workflow for state reporting? How many hours per week do you spend on the platform now vs. your previous system? How is data quality maintained? What happens when things go wrong? How responsive is support when you need it? Are there any workflows you still have to do outside the platform?

How is the platform to support? What's your ticket volume like? How reliable is uptime? How are integrations - specifically the ones you rely on? How responsive is vendor support for technical issues? What surprised you during implementation? Do you feel like a partner with the vendor or a customer?

Do you actually use the platform, or work around it? How long did it take to feel proficient? Is taking attendance and entering grades faster than your previous system? What frustrates you? What do you like? Would you go back to your previous system if you could?

Peer networks: superintendent associations, registrar networks, state ed-tech groups. Ask specifically at conferences and in professional listservs. Some districts publicly list their SIS vendor on their websites - reach out directly to peer districts. LinkedIn is useful for finding specific roles at target districts. The vendor's provided references will be positive; independent references will be balanced.

At least 3, ideally 5. Vendor-provided references should be a minimum of 3. Independent references are useful additions. If a vendor can only provide 1 or 2 references, that's a red flag about their customer base. Any established vendor should be able to provide multiple references similar to your district.

Alma can provide multiple references across roles - superintendent, registrar, IT, teacher - matched to your district's size and state. Ask for at least 3 and request permission to contact them without Alma present on the call.

Vague answers about implementation timelines. Hesitation when discussing support responsiveness. Multiple references mentioning the same specific pain point. Language that sounds coached. Reluctance to specify what they would change. Excitement about the platform that doesn't match your own scoring. Any of these deserves further investigation.

Alma provides references from districts similar to yours across roles - superintendent, registrar, IT, teacher - and encourages independent contact without Alma present. Ask for references from districts your size, in your state or region, and with your program mix if applicable. Independent verification of what you hear in demos is fair to expect from any vendor.

Request that Alma connect you with 3-5 reference districts similar to yours and that you speak with them without Alma on the call.

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Related guides

How to Compare SIS Platforms Fairly
SIS Vendor Red Flags
SIS Demo Questions