Drop Down Guide

The SpEd Forms team has recently received many support requests about drop downs not showing the intended text. The guidance below has been created in response to those requests. 


District/Coop Custom Drop Downs
Below are the steps you would take to add building/district/coop custom drop downs if you are a building/district/coop admin and have been granted access to Organization:  


  1. Determine the ID number of the dropdown by going to the form that contains the drop down you want to address. Click on the little blue circle with the question mark, next to the drop down, to find the ID number and Field Name for that particular drop down. 
  1. Go to Admin Organization. Click on Drop down lists 
  2. Using the ID number you identified in Step 1, scroll to the desired drop down. Click on the drop down ID number.  
  3. The top line of the drop down data entry screening allows you to select the value group or groups displayed.  (Custom values, SpEd Forms values, Allow users to edit).  You may select one, two or all three options.
  4. To add new custom option in your dropdown list, scroll to the bottom of the Custom Options section and click “Add New Option”
  5. When you add your option, use the exact same words and characters in both the Value(Hidden) and Display columns. It is essential that Value matches Display.   The Display is what will appear to educators when they access that form. 
  6. Then click “save” at the top of the page.  
  7. All users within your cooperative or district will now be able to use your new custom option.  


For drop downs that an administrator has allowed users to edit, users can create custom options.  These options would only be viewable and selectable by the user that created them.


Educator Custom Drop Downs v1.0 

  1. Go to Educator Set Up.
  2. Go to Edit drop down lists.
  3. Click on the drop down field you wish to customize.
  4. Add your drop down statement using the exact same words in both the Value saved and Value display boxes. You need to ensure that the value matches the display. The Display is what will appear to educators when they access that form. 
  5. Then click “save” at the top of the page.  
  6. The drop down in the forms will now have your new custom drop down listed.  


Educator Custom Drop Downs v2.0 (Note that you can customize drop downs the same way in v1.0)

  1. Go to the form and drop down you wish to customize.
  2. Click on the drop down and select the —Edit— link option (only if your administrator has allowed users to edit).
  3. Add your drop down statement using the exact same words in both the Value saved and Value display boxes. You need to ensure that the value matches the display. The Display is what will appear to educators when they access that form.
  4. Then click “save” at the top of the page.  
  5. The drop down in the forms should now have your new custom drop down listed.