Get Attendance API Doesn't Return the Correct Attendance Type

Lindsey Bryant

When executing the Get Attendance API referenced here: https://developer.sky.blackbaud.com/api#api=school&operation=V1AttendanceGet

{
    "count": 2,
    "value": [{
        "id": 3520290,
        "attendance_of_record": true,
        "attendance_type": false,
        "block_name": "A",
        "comment": "Field Trip",

You'll notice the attendance_type should connect with the API Attendance Type referenced here: https://developer.sky.blackbaud.com/api#api=school&operation=V1TypesAttendancetypesGet

{
    "present": 1,
    "absence": 2,
    "tardy": 3
}

However, the output appears to be a BIT. For schools that are attempting to do positive attendance, this essentially breaks the logic. The issue for anyone is that you can't tell if an attendance type is absence or tardy.

@Stephen Boyle tagging you for awareness. Support ticket: 021055449, @Todd DeSchuiteneer tagging you as well.

Stephen Boyle

Hi @Lindsey Bryant,

The naming in that endpoint is (euphemistically described as) a bit of a mess. The attendance_type field indicates whether that entry is for future attendance or not (true means future). We updated the description in the swagger with the meager hope of helping with this confusion.

True if the attendance entry is future attendance. This is not the type field shown in the UI for tardy/absent - that value is part of the reason/excuse type and is returned by Types excused types.

The attendance_type in the Types excused types endpoint does map to the "Present", "Absent", "Tardy" options you are referring to (though, it uses the full description not the enum value - so I don't know why the Types attendance types endpoint was even created). So, you can derive "Present/Absent/Tardy from the excuse_type_id field from the Attendance record endpoint.

I just want close with - I inherited that endpoint.