Regarding:
SELECT
FORMAT(Date Started,`YYYYMM') AS 'YrMth', Count(*) AS 'PCount'
FROM `C:\MIS\MISDATA`.tblStudents
Group by Format(tblStudents.`Date Started`,'YYYYMM')

I suspect the problem may be inconsistent use of accent grave marks (`) and
apostrophes (') in the SQL code.
NOTE: Apostrophes are ASCII code 039. The accent grave marks are ASCII code
096. You must use the accent grave marks around the file path, but I believe
you use apostrophes everywhere else.

So...I thnk your SQL code should be:
SELECT
FORMAT('Date Started','YYYYMM') AS 'YrMth', Count(*) AS 'PCount'
FROM `C:\MIS\MISDATA`.tblStudents
Group by Format('Date Started','YYYYMM')

Does that help?

--
Regards,
Ron