Traveling Through Time: The Forum Guide to Longitudinal Data Systems - Simply having an LDS will do nothing to benefit students

Traveling Through Time: The Forum Guide to Longitudinal Data Systems
Book 1 of 4: What is an LDS?

NFES 2010-805
July 2010

Acknowledgments
Foreword
List of Tables
List of Figures
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. LDS Basics
Chapter 3. What Does an LDS Look Like? From Real to Ideal
Chapter 4. Dispelling the Misconceptions: What an LDS is, and What it is Not
- A Data Warehouse is not Necessarily an LDS
- An LDS is not Just an Information Technology (IT) Project
- An Ideal LDS May Not Be Available Out-of-the-Box
- An LDS is not a Punitive Tool
- Simply Having an LDS Will Do Nothing to Benefit Students
Chapter 5. LDS Benefits: Why Should We Build These Systems?
Appendix A—Overview of the LDS Guide Series
Appendix B— References
Appendix C—Additional References
Appendix D—Handout: Anatomy of an LDS
Appendix E—LDS in Legislation
Appendix F—Forum and Other NCES Resources
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Simply having an LDS will do nothing to benefit students

An LDS alone does not improve education

Just as a new, high-tech cell phone will not make a busy life any more manageable if used like an old rotary, a new LDS will not serve an organization any better than the legacy system if it is not put to good use. A sophisticated LDS can be a tremendous tool for shedding light on the nuts and bolts of education, and for improving student outcomes. However, agencies must be aggressive and creative in using their LDS to take advantage of its full potential.

"When we get our LDS, we can kiss all our problems goodbye! The kids are gonna do great!"