Question 1

What is class list management software?

Accepted Answer

Student placement software is a specialized tool that helps educators create balanced and reviewable placements. It automates the complex process of distributing students across different classes while considering multiple factors like academic performance, behavior, gender balance, and support needs. This ensures fair and effective classroom compositions that benefit both teachers and students.

Question 2

What features are included in Shibutz?

Accepted Answer

Shibutz offers a comprehensive suite of features for class list management: Balanced placement across 6 dimensions — gender, behavior, emotional level, social skills, learning level, and attention needs Friend matching with compatibility scores so you can see how well each student is placed with their preferred peers Keep-together and keep-apart rules for student pairs that must (or must not) share a class Excel import with smart column mapping, plus one-click export of finalized lists Analytics dashboard showing gender ratios, attribute distributions, and friend placement scores per class Unlimited shuffles and adjustments at any time For a complete overview, visit our features page .

Question 3

What size schools is Shibutz designed for?

Accepted Answer

Shibutz is designed to work for schools of all sizes, from small private schools to large public institutions. Our system can handle: Small schools with under 100 students Medium-sized schools with several hundred students Large schools with over 1000 students Our algorithms are optimized to efficiently handle any number of students while maintaining good balance across classes.

Question 4

Best class list tool for elementary schools?

Accepted Answer

Shibutz is ideal for elementary schools, providing: Easy-to-use interface for teachers and administrators Comprehensive student attribute management Smart balancing algorithms for optimal class composition Flexible customization to match your school's unique needs Time-saving automation of manual class list creation

Question 5

How does Shibutz handle special education classes?

Accepted Answer

Shibutz provides comprehensive support for special education class assignments: Custom attributes for special education needs and accommodations Ability to ensure proper distribution of support resources Special consideration for student-teacher ratios in special education settings Flexibility to handle both integrated and dedicated special education classes

Question 6

How is Shibutz different from using a spreadsheet?

Accepted Answer

Spreadsheets require you to manually balance every attribute across every class — a tedious process that gets exponentially harder with more students and criteria. Shibutz uses an advanced optimization algorithm that simultaneously balances gender, behavior, emotion, social skills, learning levels, and attention needs while respecting all your placement rules (keep-together, keep-apart, class assignments). It finds the best possible solution in seconds, not hours. Plus you get analytics, friend matching scores, and Excel export built in. See our full feature list .

Question 7

Can Shibutz handle multiple grade levels?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Shibutz can manage placements across multiple grade levels simultaneously. You can: Create separate class lists for each grade Apply different criteria per grade level Manage special cases like mixed-grade classes

Question 8

How can I create balanced class lists?

Accepted Answer

Our system makes creating balanced class lists simple: Import your student data or add them manually Set your balancing criteria (gender, academic level, behavior) Define any specific student needs or relationships Let the system generate balanced placements Fine-tune the results as needed with unlimited adjustments

Question 9

How long does it take to create balanced class lists?

Accepted Answer

With Shibutz, the entire process takes under 30 minutes. Here's a typical breakdown: Import student data: ~2 minutes (Excel upload with smart column mapping) Configure preferences: 5–10 minutes (set balancing criteria, friend groups, keep-apart rules) Generate class lists: seconds (the algorithm does the heavy lifting) Review & adjust: 5–10 minutes (check per-class stats, make any manual tweaks) Compare that to the 2–3 weeks of intermittent work most schools spend on manual placements.

Question 10

How much time will Shibutz save my school?

Accepted Answer

Most schools report saving 15–20 hours per year on class placements. The manual process of sorting cards, balancing demographics, honoring friend requests, and checking constraints typically takes 2–3 weeks of intermittent work. With Shibutz, the entire process takes under an hour.

Question 11

What's the ROI of using Shibutz?

Accepted Answer

Consider the hourly cost of your admin team's time. If 3 staff members spend 15 hours each on class placements, that's 45 person-hours. At $40/hour, that's $1,800 in staff time. Shibutz reduces this to under 3 person-hours — saving $1,680+ per year, not counting the improved outcomes from data-driven placement.

Question 12

Can Shibutz really create class lists in minutes?

Accepted Answer

The algorithm generates balanced class lists in seconds. The total time includes: Data entry: 5–10 minutes if importing from Excel, longer if entering manually Setting preferences & restrictions: 5–15 minutes Reviewing results: 5–10 minutes Most schools complete the entire process in under 30 minutes after the first time.

Question 13

Is there a limit to how many students Shibutz can handle?

Accepted Answer

The system doesn't put any limit. Obviously, the more students you have, the more complex it will be to find a balanced assignment that matches all requirements, but our system is designed to handle large datasets efficiently.

Question 14

How many shuffles/changes can I do?

Accepted Answer

Unlimited! Try different combinations, tweak and play with the requirements. We're here to make your life easier.

Question 15

What file formats can I use to import student data?

Accepted Answer

Shibutz supports importing student data from Excel files (.xlsx). You can also add students manually through our intuitive interface. Our import process includes smart column mapping that guides you step-by-step through matching your spreadsheet columns to student attributes like name, gender, academic level, and behavioral notes. A downloadable Excel template is also available inside the app so you can start with the correct format right away.

Question 16

Does Shibutz work on mobile devices?

Accepted Answer

Shibutz is a web-based application that works on any device with a modern browser. While you can view class lists on mobile, we recommend using a desktop or tablet for the best experience when creating and reviewing placements, as the interface involves data tables and drag-and-drop features.

Question 17

Do I need to install any software?

Accepted Answer

No. Shibutz is entirely web-based — just open your browser and sign in. There's nothing to install, update, or maintain. Works with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and other modern browsers.

Question 18

How do I set up student matching and separation rules?

Accepted Answer

In the class settings, you can define: Keep-together rules — pair students who should be in the same class (e.g., friends who support each other) Keep-apart rules — separate students who shouldn't be in the same class (e.g., siblings, behavioral conflicts) Teacher assignment — assign specific students to specific classes when needed The algorithm respects all these constraints while still optimizing for overall class balance.

Question 19

Where is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

All data is stored securely in cloud infrastructure with encryption at rest and in transit. We use industry-standard security protocols to ensure your school and student data remains protected at all times.

Question 20

Is Shibutz COPPA and FERPA compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shibutz is designed with educational data protection in mind. Our data handling practices comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). We do not collect data directly from students — only authorized school staff interact with the platform. For full details, visit our Security & Compliance page.

Question 21

Can I use partial names or anonymized data?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. If your school has strict data privacy requirements, you can use partial names (e.g., "John D." instead of "John Doe"), initials, or student ID numbers. The class balancing algorithms work based on attributes like academic level and behavior — full names are not required for the system to function effectively.

Question 22

Who can access my school's data?

Accepted Answer

Only you can access your data. Each account is isolated with row-level security — no other users can see your students or class lists. Shibutz staff do not access customer data unless explicitly requested for support purposes. We never share, sell, or rent your data to third parties.

Question 23

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Canceling Pro does not delete class lists, students, or assignment results. You keep Pro access until the paid period ends. If the account later moves to Free, you can still view existing work, but new class lists, extra students, additional generations, and XLSX export require Pro. Account deletion is different: it permanently removes class placement data, while billing records may be retained for legal and audit reasons.

Question 24

What's included in the Free plan?

Accepted Answer

The Free plan includes 1 class list, up to 25 students, and 3 generated placements. Use it to test a small roster. XLSX export is a Pro feature.

Question 25

How much does Pro cost?

Accepted Answer

Pro costs $199/year and includes unlimited class lists, unlimited students, unlimited placement generations, and XLSX export.

Question 26

Can I cancel my subscription anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can cancel from the Billing page. Your Pro access continues until the end of the current billing period.

Question 27

What happens if I downgrade to Free?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is deleted. You can view existing class lists and results, even if they are over the Free limits. Creating more class lists, adding students beyond 25, running more than 3 generations, and XLSX export require Pro.

Question 28

How do I get an invoice?

Accepted Answer

Open Billing and choose Manage Subscription . The billing portal has invoices, payment details, and subscription status.

Question 29

Do you offer refunds?

Accepted Answer

You can request a full refund within 7 days of purchase by emailing support@shibutz.com. After 7 days, refunds are handled case by case or where required by law.

Question 30

Can I pay with a purchase order?

Accepted Answer

Card payment is self-serve. For a purchase order or invoice-based procurement, email support with your school name and what you need.

Question 31

Can I export my class lists?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can export your finalized class lists to Excel (.xlsx) format for sharing with teachers, printing, or importing into your school management system. The export includes all student details, placement results, and per-class statistics — gender ratios, attribute averages, and friend placement scores — so you can review balance at a glance.

Question 32

Can I share class lists with other staff members?

Accepted Answer

Currently, class lists are tied to individual accounts. To share with colleagues, you can export the lists as Excel files and distribute them. We're working on collaborative features for future releases.

Question 33

Can I switch from using spreadsheets to Shibutz?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — that's what Shibutz was built for. If you've been managing class lists in Excel or Google Sheets, you can import your existing student data directly. Most schools complete the transition in under 30 minutes. Our getting started guide walks you through the entire process step by step.

Question 34

Need help with Shibutz?

Accepted Answer

Our support team is here to help! You can: Email us with questions Get assistance with using the software Receive help with importing your student data

Frequently Asked Questions

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