- Marion County Public Schools
- Canvas for Parents
Canvas for Parents Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I register?
Parents simply need an active Skyward Family Access account with a valid email address linked to the Skyward account. Canvas Observer accounts for parents and guardians are automatically generated from active Skyward Family Access accounts. You do not need a pairing code to be connected to your student(s) in Canvas. Your Observer account will automatically connect you to your student(s) based on records in Skyward.
Click here for Skyward Family Access Registration instructions.
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What is my username?
Your Canvas username is the same as your Skyward Family Access username.
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Can I update the email address associated with my Skyward Family Access account?
Yes, sign into your Skyward Family Access account, click the "Open Family Access" button, then click the "My Account" link at the top of the screen. Enter your current email address in the "Email" box and then click the "Save" button.
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How do I setup my initial password?
Observer accounts have been imported into Canvas, however, parents must create their own password. The school and the district do not have access to Observer passwords.
To set your initial password, click on the Forgot Password? link on the login screen. You will be prompted to enter your login. Enter the username for your Skyward Family Access account. Canvas will send a reset password link to the email address connected to your Skyward Family Access account.
Click [HERE] for a short video tutorial.
NOTE: We recommend that you set your initial password by visting the Canvas website using a web browser rather than using the mobile app.
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What if I forget my password?
Parents create their own password which the school and district do not have access to.
If you forget your password, you can click on the Forgot Password? link on the login screen. You will be prompted to enter your login, which is the same as your Skyward Family Access username. Canvas will send a reset password link to the email address associated with your Skyward Family Access account.
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I am an MCPS employee and a parent. How do I sign into Canvas as a parent?
MCPS employees who have children in the system should sign into Canvas using your Skyward Family Access username (*FA-). Your Observer account has been imported into Canvas, however, you must create your own password. The school and the district do not have access to Observer passwords.
To set your initial password, click on the Forgot Password? link on the login screen. You will be prompted to enter your login. Enter your Skyward Family Access username. Canvas will send a reset password link to the email address associated with your Skyward Family Access account.
NOTE: If the email address associated with your Skyward Family Access account is your MCPS email address, we recommend that you change the email address to your personal email address. See the previous FAQ regarding changing the Family Access email address.
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Do I need different accounts for each student?
No, once your parent observer account has been created, all students will be connected based on Skyward records.
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Can I use the Canvas mobile app?
Yes, the Canvas Parent mobile app is available for download for both Android and iOS devices. When you open the Canvas Parent mobile app, click the "Find School" button. Search for "Marion County Schools - FL (Parents)" or click [HERE] for directions on using a QR code to log in to the Canvas Parent app.
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Do I have different passwords on the mobile app and website?
No, your password for the mobile app and the website is the same.
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How do I view my student's calendar?
Take a look at this Calendar Canvas Guide to learn how to view your student's calendar.
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How do I check the grades for assignments completed in Canvas?
Click on the Grades button in the Canvas mobile app to view the grades earned on individual Canvas assignments. Remember that Skyward is the official gradebook of record in Marion County Public Schools. Sign into Skyward Family Access to view your student's current grading period average.
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Are these my student's official grades?
The official gradebook in Marion County Public Schools can be found on Skyward and can be accessed through Skyward Family Access.
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Why are there more grades in Skyward than in Canvas?
A student may have more grades in Skyward than in Canvas if a teacher adds paper-based assignments to Skyward that were not submitted and/or graded in Canvas.
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How do I contact my student's teacher?
You can contact the instructor of any course you are observing in Canvas by clicking on the Inbox icon.
And then clicking on the new message icon.
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Do all of my student's teachers use Canvas?
Currently, MCPS teachers are not required to use Canvas.
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How do I update my Canvas settings?
Canvas includes a set of default notification preferences you can receive for the courses you are observing. Notifications are sent to Canvas contact methods as specified in your account User Settings. However, you can change the default settings by setting your own notification preferences. Click here to view the Account Settings Guide.
Canvas for Parents and Guardians
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Canvas is the MCPS-adopted Learning Management System and the hub of the digital classroom. Students will visit Canvas to check their calendar for upcoming due dates, access course materials, and submit assignments. Parents can use Canvas to keep up with their student's calendar and assignments. Access to Canvas will be provided through Skyward Family Access.
Canvas Observer accounts are created based on parent/guardian data shared when registration for a child is completed in MCPS. Please wait 48 hours after registration to access your Canvas Observer account and set your initial account password.
Setting the Initial Password for an Observer Account
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Active Skyward Family Access accounts have been imported into Canvas as Observer accounts, however, parents must create their own password. The school and the district do not have access to Observer passwords.
To set the initial password for your Observer account, click on the Forgot Password? link on the login screen. You will be prompted to enter your email address. Enter the email address associated with your Skyward Family Access account. Canvas will send a reset password link to the email address you entered. This process will allow you to establish the password for your Observer account.
Click [HERE] for a short video tutorial on how to set up the Initial Password.
Once you have your new password and have logged in to Canvas in your browser, you can easily download and set up the Canvas Parent app on your mobile device. Get Canvas Parent from the app store for your Android or iOS device.
Click [HERE] for directions on using the QR code to login for Android or iOS Canvas Parent app.