Plan templates are the building blocks of the new Plans experience. A template is a flexible container you set up once and reuse every time you create a plan, whether that's a learning plan, behavior plan, re-entry plan, or accommodation plan. Each template can combine one or more forms with optional goal tracking and accommodations, so you can shape it to fit exactly the kind of plan you're building.
This article walks you through how to build a form template and turn it into a reusable plan template in August Schools.
Note: You must have the Manager or SysAdmin role in order to be able to create and edit plan templates
Why use plan templates?
Standardize your plans — every learning specialist, dean, or counselor starts from the same structure
Save time with default values — pre-fill fields you type over and over
Stay flexible — turn goal tracking and accommodations on or off per plan type
Control visibility — decide which roles (e.g., learning specialists) can see and use each template
See adoption at a glance — each template shows how many plans are using it
Understanding the components of a plan template
A plan template can include up to three types of components. You choose which to include:
Component | What it does |
Form(s) | One or more form templates that capture the plan's written content. You can add default values to any field. |
Goal tracking | Lets you set and track measurable goals for a student within the plan. |
Accommodations | Pulls from your school's accommodations list so you can select which apply. These appear on the dedicated Accommodations page. |
For example, a learning plan might use forms, goal tracking, and accommodations, while a behavior plan might use goal tracking but skip accommodations. Build each template to do exactly what that plan type needs.
Part 1: Build your form template
The form template is the smallest building block. If you've created health enrollment forms or custom encounters before, this will feel familiar.
Go to Forms → Templates.
Click New template.
Give the template a name (e.g., "Learning plan — lower school").
Set the template's visibility (e.g., learning specialists).
Click Add question and choose an answer type. Options include short answer, paragraph, number, date, single select, yes/no, multi-select, checkboxes, and dropdown.
Name each question and, for dropdowns, add your options. You can add optional description subtext to clarify a question.
Mark questions as required if needed, and click Save after each one.
💡 Tip: Everything you build here becomes reusable, so name your forms clearly — you'll be selecting them by name when you build the plan template.
Part 2: Turn it into a plan template
Go to the Plan templates page.
Click New plan template and give it a name (e.g., "Learning plan — lower school").
Set the template's visibility (e.g., learning specialists).
Click Add form and select the form template you just created. Expand it to review its fields.
(Optional) Add default values to any field you fill out the same way each time.
(Optional) Add a second form if your plan needs more than one.
Toggle on goal tracking and/or accommodations depending on the plan type.
Everything autosaves — just close out when you're done.
Your new template will appear on the Plan templates page.
Best practices & tips
Build the form first. A plan template pulls in existing form templates, so create your form before you create the plan template.
Use default values for repetitive fields — they save real time across many students.
Only turn on what you need. Not every plan needs goals or accommodations; keep simpler plan types simple.