Canvas Parent Access

What is a Parent/Observer Account?

Parents can view their student’s Canvas courses by creating an Observer account linked to their student.

With an Observer account, parents can:

View assignments and due dates
See course content and modules
Check grades and progress

If you already use the Canvas Parent App, you can use the same login.

Create a Parent/Observer Account

Step 1: Get a Pairing Code

Have your student:

Open Canvas
Go to Account → Settings
Click “Pair with Observer”
Copy the pairing code

Step 2: Create Your Account

Go to your school Canvas site
Click “Parent of a Canvas User?”
Enter your information
Enter the pairing code
Finish setup

Parents will log in using the username and password they create.

What Can Parents See?

Parents (Observers) can:

View course announcements
See assignments and due dates
Access modules and course materials
View grades and feedback
Check the course calendar

Navigating Canvas

Parents can use:

Global Navigation → switch between courses
Course Menu → access assignments, modules, grades
Calendar → view upcoming work
Dashboard → overview of all courses

What Parents Cannot Do

Observers have limited access. They cannot:

Submit assignments
Take quizzes
Participate in discussions
Message students
Join course groups
View student rosters

Important Notes

Students must be enrolled in a course before it appears
Courses must be published to be visible
One parent account can link to multiple students

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