Placement workflow docs
Documentation
Start with the phase you are in now. Each group follows the same path a placement team takes: build the workspace, add rules, generate results, then handle account limits when they matter.
Choose your workflow phase
The full docs set is split into smaller decisions so you can jump straight to the work in front of you.
Phase 1
3 guidesStart the workspace
Create your workspace, add students, and define the classrooms you are filling.
Phase 2
4 guidesAdd placement rules
Add staff pairing preferences, separation rules, required placements, and balance settings.
Phase 3
4 guidesGenerate and review
Run the placement engine, read the balance signals, understand the algorithm, and export the result.
Plan limits
1 guideManage billing
Check Free and Pro limits, subscription status, upgrades, and billing management.
Shibutz helps elementary-school staff prepare and review class lists using roster data and placement rules. Start with one grade or cohort in a placement workspace, then add the destination classrooms. Generated lists still need a staff review before they are shared.
Create your first placement
- Create an account. Sign up and complete the sign-in steps to open your dashboard.
- Create a placement workspace. Create a workspace for one grade or planning scenario. Give it a name your team will recognize.
- Add students. Enter students manually or import a CSV or Excel roster. Review import issues, duplicate matches, scales, and student friend requests.
- Add classrooms. Create the destination classrooms and set capacities within school-approved staffing and policy limits.
- Set placement rules. Add staff Preferences, Restrictions, and Required Placements as needed. Check Placement Settings and resolve blocking Constraint Health issues before generating.
- Generate and review. Click Generate Placement on the workspace overview. Review classroom counts and individual student outcomes. XLSX export requires Pro; Free users can review results in Shibutz.
A workspace holds the roster and rules. A classroom is one destination within it. Free includes 1 workspace, up to 25 students, and 3 generations per workspace. Pro removes those plan limits and adds XLSX export; see billing and plan limits.
Prepare the roster before adding rules
Import a CSV or Excel file or enter students manually. Check duplicate matches before saving. Review scale ratings with a consistent staff rubric, and record student friend requests on student records. Use the separate Preferences section for staff pairing decisions.
Keep notes brief and necessary for placement. Do not copy medical histories or family records into the roster. Follow your school's authorization and data-handling procedures before uploading student data.
Check the rules before generating
Add necessary separations and required classrooms before the first run. The workspace's Constraint Health card runs the same readiness check as the Generate Placement button and separates blocking issues from warnings. Expand it to see each issue and a suggested fix. Read how to resolve generation failures if the setup cannot produce a valid placement.
Review before sharing
Open the results guide to understand counts, friend-rate denominators, and the detailed student table. Check sensitive placements individually rather than relying on one summary number. On Pro, use Export to Excel, then prepare a copy containing only the data each recipient needs.
Open your dashboard to create a workspace or return to a saved placement.