Frequently Asked Questions
The questions schools ask us before they sign up, answered plainly: setup, scanning, ID cards, reports, pricing and privacy. Questions about running clubs themselves are covered in our school running clubs guide, and questions about fundraising events are covered in the jog-a-thon guide.
Getting Started
Q: How long does setup take?
A: Most schools are ready to scan within a few days. Setup is free and done for you: send us your class lists and we import every student, class and grade. You print and laminate the ID cards at school, hand them out, and start scanning. See the class list instructions for the file format.
Q: Will you upload our class lists for us?
A: Yes. Free setup is included with every subscription, at signup and again when the new school year begins. You send the class lists and we handle the import. You spend your time with your students instead of keying in data or working through a complicated import screen.
Q: Can we start in the winter or spring?
A: Yes. Subscriptions cover a fixed school-year term. If you start mid-year, you will have access for the remainder of that term. Spring is a popular time to launch because of jog-a-thon season, with many schools kicking off their program at the event and running it through the end of the school year.
Q: Is Student Lap Tracker hard to learn?
A: No. Scanning is point-and-shoot: the app finds the barcode / QR code with the camera and beeps on each lap. Parent volunteers learn it in under five minutes. The Web Portal handles classes, runners, awards and reports with a few clicks, and email support is there if you get stuck.
Scanning & Devices
Q: Can helpers who are not technical do the scanning?
A: Yes. If a volunteer can take a photo with a phone, they can scan laps. The app shows the student's ID on each successful scan so helpers can confirm they scanned the right card, and there are no settings to manage during a session.
Q: How many devices can we scan with at once?
A: As many as you want. There are no per-device fees and no device limits, so install the scanner app on every iPhone, iPad and Android device your school can put together. Big events like jog-a-thons often run five to ten scanners side by side at one finish line.
Q: Do we need to buy any special hardware?
A: No. The phones and tablets you or your school already own become the scanners. There are no dedicated handheld barcode scanners, docks or subscriptions to hardware of any kind, and the scanner apps themselves are free downloads on the App Store and Google Play.
Q: Can we use Student Lap Tracker for our jog-a-thon?
A: Yes. Schools run jog-a-thons on it every year at no extra cost. Volunteers scan ID cards at the finish line, and every student's exact lap total is ready the moment the last session ends. That is the number your pledge sheets multiply, so the amounts that go home hold up when a sponsor checks them. Start with our complete jog-a-thon guide.
Cards & Students
Q: What information is on the ID card?
A: Each card shows the student's first name, last initial or name (your choice), runner ID and a barcode or QR code. Cards contain no photos, birthdates or other sensitive information. The barcode is a number that only means something inside your school's own account.
Q: Do students re-use their cards from the previous year?
A: Yes. Cards stay valid year over year, and returning students keep their lap history. Most schools collect cards at the end of each session in a class card box, so cards survive the summer easily. Lost cards reprint from the Web Portal in about a minute.
Q: Can we add students that transfer in mid-year?
A: Yes. Add a new runner in the Web Portal, print their card, and they're scanning the same day. Transfers, new enrollments and mid-year class changes are all routine, and you can make them yourself without contacting support.
Reports & Data
Q: Can we get the data in Excel?
A: Yes. Every report exports to Excel, Word or PDF with one click, and you can build custom reports that include exactly the columns you need. See sample reports for what the output looks like.
Q: Can the system report on lap times? For the One-Mile Run?
A: Yes. Timed runs capture each student's total time and per-lap splits, and the Timed Run Trend report shows improvement across the year — ideal for the one-mile run. Read how whole-class mile run timing works.
Q: Can other teachers login and run reports?
A: Yes. Your subscription includes accounts for as many teachers and staff as you need, each with their own login. Teachers can run reports for their own classes while coordinators see the whole school.
Q: Will it track our incentives and awards?
A: Yes. Define the award levels that fit your program, such as 8, 16 and 40 kilometers or participation streaks. The awards engine then tracks who earned what and when, and generates the certificates. See award ideas that motivate student runners.
Q: Can we track multiple activities separately?
A: Yes. Activities keep PE classes, run club and special events like jog-a-thons separate, so each has its own lap totals and reports. A student can participate in several activities at once without the numbers mixing.
Pricing & Support
Q: Can I tell everyone there are no extra charges during the year?
A: Yes. One annual subscription covers everything: unlimited scans, unlimited devices, unlimited reports, unlimited dashboard accounts, setup and support. There are no per-student, per-scan or per-device fees.
Q: Is support included?
A: Yes. Email support is included at no additional charge for the life of your subscription. Subscribers can also use the iOS app guide linked below.
Q: Where do schools get the funding for their subscription?
A: Parent organizations, school discretionary funds, wellness grants and jog-a-thon proceeds are the most common sources. About 20% of our schools fund the subscription from a small slice of their jog-a-thon proceeds. In most schools the principal is the person who connects the staff member running the program with a funding source.
Q: How much does Student Lap Tracker cost outside the US?
A: Schools outside the United States pay a flat $99 USD per year — every feature included, any enrollment size. Setup and email support are included at no additional charge.
Privacy & Security
Q: Will your security and privacy be acceptable to District IT?
A: Yes. Student Lap Tracker is COPPA, FERPA and California AB 1584 compliant. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and student data is never shared with third parties. Point your IT department at our student data privacy page.
Q: Who can see student data?
A: Only accounts your school creates: teachers and staff you authorize, plus optional family dashboard accounts that show a student's own data and nothing else. There is no public leaderboard, no self-registration, and no advertising anywhere in the product.
Support & Guides for Current Schools
How Much Does It Cost?
Schools outside the United States pay a flat $99 USD per year — every feature included, any enrollment size.
Pricing and Signup