Custom Sandbox Districts

Use this page to request, configure, and connect a custom sandbox district for Secure Sync testing.

Overview

A sandbox district is a demo Clever district account populated with test data. Developer apps include a default sandbox district, but you can request a custom sandbox district when you need to upload and manage your own test data.

Custom sandbox districts are useful when you need to:

• test district setup from the district administrator perspective
• upload custom CSV files
• validate app behavior with specific school, user, section, or enrollment scenarios
• test data sharing and launch workflows with controlled data

Each application can create up to 5 sandbox districts.

Request a custom sandbox district

Contact Clever Support and provide:

1. A valid email address that is not already associated with another application or sandbox district account.
2. The desired sandbox district name.

Use this naming convention:

#DEMO <app name>

Example:

#DEMO ReadingFun Sandbox District

After Clever creates the sandbox district, the email address you provided receives an account setup message for the district administrator account.

Set up the sandbox district

1. Finish account creation

1. Open the account setup email from Clever.
2. Set the password for the district administrator account.
3. Sign in to the district dashboard.

2. Configure data sync

1. Click Configure data sync.
2. Choose a SIS option from the list.
3. Select the option to manually send data to Clever using SFTP.
4. Complete the setup flow to reach the Sync Settings page.

3. Configure Instant Login

1. Return to the district dashboard.
2. Click Configure login method.
3. Add an identity provider.
4. For general testing, Clever recommends Clever Authentication because it is the easiest option to configure.

Recommended Clever Authentication credential formats:

For stable test credentials, disable password changes and first-login password reset requirements when possible.

Upload sandbox data

Go to Settings > Sync Settings in the district dashboard.

If the sandbox district uses SFTP sync, upload data with either:

• an SFTP client
• the dashboard upload link

Each sync must include these files:

• schools.csv
• students.csv
• teachers.csv
• sections.csv
• enrollments.csv

admins.csv is optional and is used to provision school admins.

Connect the sandbox district to an app

Connect to a development app

1. Find the app’s District Signup URL in the application settings.
2. Sign out of the application account.
3. Sign in to the sandbox district account.
4. Open the District Signup URL.
5. Complete the authorization flow to add the application.

Connect to a production app

1. Get the sandbox district ID from the dev app’s District Overview page.
2. Switch to the production app in the app dashboard.
3. Search for the sandbox district ID.
4. Invite the sandbox district to connect.
5. Sign in to the sandbox district dashboard.
6. Accept the request and share data.
7. Return to the production app dashboard and launch the connection.

Share data and launch the connection

After uploading data, share it with the application:

1. Sign in to the sandbox district dashboard.
2. Open the application.
3. Go to the Data Sharing tab.
4. For testing, Clever usually recommends sharing by district.
5. Save the changes.

Then launch the district connection:

1. Return to the app dashboard.
2. Find the sandbox district with the orange Setting Up status.
3. Click Launch Now.
4. Confirm the district shows a blue Launched status.

Sample datasets

You can use sample datasets when you do not need to create all test data from scratch:

• Default sandbox district data: default_sandbox_data.zip
• Certification ISD edge-case data: CertificationISD.zip

For more sandbox testing options, see Testing Your Secure Sync Integration.