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Parents Log On to Check Students' Progress in School

By Hattie Brown

Technology Page When Adrienne Damsky wants to check up on her 13-year-old son's grades and make sure he's completing his homework assignments, she doesn't call his Boca Raton, Fla., middle school or plan a parent-teacher conference. With Omni Middle School's online system, Edline, all Ms. Damsky has to do is log on to the school's Web site.

"It's easy to get on to. All the grades, all the homework is right there," Ms. Damsky said. "If your child is failing, you know why."

Thanks to such computer programs, students around the country can no longer hide missed homework assignments, failing grades, and lapsing attendance. With online programs, both commercial and school-created, parents have found a better way to keep tabs...