Metadata registries are centralized locations where metadata structures and definitions are stored and maintained, often online. The following is a brief description of several well-known metadata registries.
One widely recognized data standard in the field of elementary and secondary education is the NCES Handbooks Online, which defines standard education terms for students, staff, schools, local education agencies, intermediate education agencies, and state education agencies. It is intended as a reference document for public and private education institutions and early childhood centers, as well as education researchers and other users of education data. This web-based tool allows users to view and download information about data elements via an electronic table of contents, a drill-down finder, element-name and first-letter searches, and advanced query options.
Another widely respected standard for education data is the SIF Implementation Specification. Developed by the Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA), this is a set of rules and definitions that enable software programs from different vendors to share data without additional programming by local schools, districts, or states. SIFA's goal is to allow school administrators, teachers, and other school staff to have secure access to the most current and accurate education data available.
Other sets of standards more specific to metadata systems include metadata registries. These are centralized locations where metadata structures and definitions are stored and maintained. Numerous nationally and internationally recognized metadata registries are available online, including