Everyone signs in with the email address on their account. There are two ways in — a one-time email code or your password — plus Google when your school has switched it on. You are taken to your own area afterwards: students to their dashboard, teachers to the teacher portal, school staff to the admin workspace, campuses to the campus portal.
Which sign-in page to use
| You are… | Sign in at | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A student, teacher or school staff member | /sign_in | The older addresses /student/sign_in, /teacher/sign_in and /admin/sign_in all lead to the same page. |
| A campus | /campus/sign_in | The campus page only accepts campus accounts for password sign-in. See Campus first sign-in and temporary password. |
Ways to sign in
| Method | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Email code (recommended) | Enter your email and choose Email me a sign-in code. A 6-digit code is emailed to you. Type it in and choose Verify and sign in. | Shared or public computers, and anyone who hasn't set a password yet. |
| Password | Switch to the Password tab, enter your email and password and choose Sign in. | Quick sign-in on your own device. |
| Continue with Google | Shown only when your school allows it. It signs in an existing account whose email matches your Google account; it never creates a new account. | People who use a Google address for their account. |
Signing in with an email code
Step 1: Open the sign-in page
Sign in to open this screenStep 2: Keep the Email code tab selected and enter your email
Step 3: Choose Email me a sign-in code
For your privacy the page says a code has been sent whether or not the email has an account.
Step 4: Enter the 6-digit code and choose Verify and sign in
The code works for 10 minutes and only once. Asking for a new code cancels the old ones.
Code limits that protect your account
| Limit | What happens |
|---|---|
| A code is valid for 10 minutes | After that it no longer works; ask for a new one. |
| 5 wrong tries per code | The code stops working even if the next try would have been right. Ask for a new code. |
| Resend waiting time | After each code you wait before asking again: 1 minute, then 2, then 3, then 10 minutes. The page shows the countdown. |
| Too many code requests | Several requests for the same email (or from the same network) within a minute pause requests: "Too many code requests. Please try again in N seconds." |
Signing in with a password
- Use the Password tab. The eye button shows or hides what you typed.
- Forgot it? Choose Forgot password? under the field — see Resetting a forgotten password.
- Several wrong attempts within a minute pause sign-in for that email: "Too many sign-in attempts. Please try again in N seconds." Wait, then try again or use an email code.
- Teacher and campus accounts created by NSDP start with a link to set a password; until you set one, use an email code.
Signing in with Google
When your school has turned Google sign-in on, a Continue with Google button appears. Google only confirms who you are; the portal then looks for an active account at this school with the same email address.
How long you stay signed in
- Students: 6 hours. Teachers, campuses and school staff: 1 day.
- The time doesn't extend while you are active. When it ends you see "Your session has expired. Please sign in again to continue."
- Signing out from the account menu ends your session on that device.
- Resetting your password signs you out on every device.
Sign-in messages and what to do
Messages you might see
“Invalid email or password”
WhyThe email has no active account here, or the password is wrong. For privacy the page doesn't say which. On the campus sign-in page it also appears for any account that isn't a campus account.
FixCheck the spelling, try an email code, or reset your password. Students, teachers and staff sign in at
/sign_in. A deactivated account also gets this message — contact your school.“This sign-in code is expired or invalid.”
WhyThe code is wrong, expired, already used, or replaced by a newer one.
FixAsk for a new code and use the most recent email.
“This account does not belong to this school.”
WhyYou are on another school's portal.
FixOpen your own school's portal address.
“Too many sign-in attempts. Please try again in N seconds.”
WhyA safety pause after many attempts in a short time (the same applies to code requests).
FixWait for the time shown, then try again.
“Please wait … before requesting another code.”
WhyThe resend countdown is still running.
FixWait for the countdown, or switch to the Password tab.
“This email address has a delivery restriction. Please contact school support or sign in with your password.”
WhyEmails to this address are blocked, so a code can't be sent.
FixSign in with your password, or contact your school.
“No active account was found for that Google email.”
WhyNo account at this school uses that Google address.
FixUse an email code with the address you registered with.
“Your session has expired. Please sign in again to continue.”
WhyYour sign-in reached its time limit, or your password was reset.
FixSign in again.
When the code doesn't arrive
Step 1: Check Spam, Junk and Promotions
Codes usually arrive within a minute. If you find one in Spam, mark it as not spam so future codes arrive normally.
Step 2: Check the email address
Choose Change email if you mistyped it.
Step 3: Resend once the countdown ends
Use the newest code only.
Step 4: Resubscribe if you unsubscribed
If you once unsubscribed from your school's account emails, the page offers Send resubscription email. Follow the activation link in that email, then request your code again.
Step 5: Or use your password
The Password tab works at any time.
I don't have a password.
Use an email code, or choose Forgot password to set one.
Can I create an account myself?
Students can, when the school allows it, from Create account on the sign-in page. Teacher and campus accounts are created by NSDP after an application or request is approved.
I have more than one role with the same email.
The portal signs you in to one account, choosing staff before teacher before student. Use a different email for each role if you need to switch between them.
Why was I signed out in the middle of my work?
Your session reached its time limit (6 hours for students, 1 day for others), or your password was reset. Sign in again; your progress is saved as you go.