Overview

The NCES STATS-DC 2012 Data Conference was designed for education researchers, policymakers, and data system managers from all levels of government to share innovations in the design and implementation of education data collections and information systems and to provide insight and comment on technical and policy issues related to the collection, maintenance, and use of education data.

This two-and-a-half-day conference offered opportunities for professional networking, updates on federal and national activities affecting data collection and reporting, and information about the best new approaches in collecting, reporting, and using education statistics. The Data Conference offered more than 100 presentations and demonstrations conducted by practitioners from K–12 information systems. The Data Conference included training and business meetings for state CCD and EDFacts data coordinators. In addition, NCES postsecondary education experts provided sessions that increased knowledge of postsecondary data environments and data systems such as IPEDS. There was also a range of informative sessions targeted toward interests in Common Core of Data (CCD), Common Education Data Standards (CEDS), data collection, data management, data privacy, data dissemination, data linking beyond K-12, data standards, data quality, data usage, growth models, education research, school finance, and Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS), as well as information about changes in how the U.S. Department of Education collects and uses data.