Concurrent Session X Presentations


Friday, August 1, 2014
9:00 am – 10:00 am


X–A: Creating Rich School District Datasets Through Updated Surveying Methods

Kati Stratos and David Kowalski, School District of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

    In years past, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) has administered an annual districtwide parent and student survey using a paper-and-pencil-based system that was inconsistent and unreliable and that yielded low response rates. In 2013–14, the surveys were moved entirely online and now require a unique student ID in order for a parent or student to respond. This session will discuss these changes and how they have allowed existing family demographic and student performance data to be triangulated with survey response data on the back end, creating a more robust, high-quality dataset to inform school improvement efforts, program evaluation, and district decisionmaking.

X–B: DC’s At-Risk Funding and Implications for Early Warning Systems (CANCELLED)

Alex Engler, District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education

    In 2014–15, Washington, DC, will be allocating to schools an additional $2,079 for each student deemed “at-risk.” Learn about the factors currently used to determine risk for funding, the use of early warning system indicators to drive risk evaluation, and the corresponding efforts to better understand the impacts of poverty and socioeconomic status (SES) in a state that has fully embraced the community eligibility provision to expand access to free school lunch. This presentation will include analysis utilizing new indicators of SES and risk and linking them to such outcomes as attendance, DC CAS scores, SAT scores, discipline, and school disengagement.

X–C: Using Data to Identify Indicators of College Readiness

Vasuki Rethinam, Howard County Public School System (Maryland)

    A large number of students are entering college underprepared for rigorous college-level work, leading to remedial course taking, delays in graduation, and dropping out of college. How can high schools help prepare students for college and career success? This session will demonstrate research on developing a statistical model to identify indicators of college readiness and fall college enrollment. This session will also highlight the strategies that a district and its schools use to leverage indicator data to promote students’ enrollment in rigorous coursework.

X–D: Effective Strategies for Granting Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) Access to Outside Researchers

Erica Orians, Utah Education Policy Center

    Utah’s state longitudinal data system (SLDS), the Utah Data Alliance (UDA), offers researchers outside the partner agencies the opportunity to use SLDS data in a secure environment for research purposes. In order to extend these research opportunities to graduate students, faculty, and other researchers, the Utah Data Alliance has developed and implemented extensive policies and practices related to data access and security. This session will discuss the application process for outside researchers, procedures to secure data and access, researcher support, usage and issue tracking, and other protocols that could be adopted by other states.

Download Zipped PowerPoint Presentation:


X–E: Teacher and Leader Evaluation Management System

Irene Koffink and Ginny Clifford, New Hampshire Department of Education
Dean Hupp, Hupp Information Technologies

    New Hampshire has been working on a data system to manage the evaluation of educators (both teachers and leaders). The system allows superintendents and principals to track evaluations, document evaluations in progress, capture professional development needs, track deadlines, and include teacher responses to the evaluation. The data system is flexible so that each school district can define an evaluation rubric (e.g., using the Charlotte Danielson or Marzano structure), identify and document “indicators of effectiveness” used as input for the evaluation, and allow for documents to capture classroom observations, student surveys, or peer feedback. The system captures all of this information, which is then used to complete an evaluation rubric. Join us for a demonstration of the pilot tool that New Hampshire schools will be using this fall. The tool is being developed by Hupp Information Technologies, and a representative from Hupp will participate in the presentation.

X–F: The Future Is Here in Massachusetts With Actionable, Near-Real-Time, Event-Driven Data Integration Using Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF)

William Holscher, Massachusetts Executive Office of Education (EOE)

    The Massachusetts Executive Office of Education (EOE) delivered a near-real-time, event-driven data management and reporting system utilizing the School Interoperability Framework (SIF). The state is replacing legacy periodic data collection and reporting with a new event-driven model that delivers actionable information to key stakeholders where and when needed. In this session, the Massachusetts SIF Program Manager will share the implementation strategy, tactical approach, and lessons learned while reviewing valuable tools and resources available to other states.

Download Zipped PowerPoint Presentation:


X–G: Civil Rights Data 2014: Use Cases and Stakeholder Stories

Melanie McCalmont, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Abby Potts, U.S. Department of Education
Marlene Dorenkamp, Iowa Department of Education

    Who uses the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC)? What decisions can it inform? This panel will tell stories from those who have used CRDC data in many fields of inquiry and discuss the benefits and limitations of its scope. Learn more about how the Office for Civil Rights and state education agencies are partnering to improve data quality that will make data inquiry, policy analysis, and school improvement more effective. An update of the upcoming 2014 CRDC survey will also be provided.

Download Zipped PowerPoint Presentation:


X–H: Distance Learning Dataset Training System: An Online Guide to NCES Data Across the Education Spectrum

Andrew White, National Center for Education Statistics
Jennifer Nielsen, Manhattan Strategy Group

    The Distance Learning Dataset Training (DLDT) System is a new approach to facilitating the use of education data. This session on the DLDT common modules offers an overview of NCES data systems; methods used to ensure consistent, reliable, complete, and accurate data collection and reporting; complex sampling designs and implications for micro-data users; and how to access publications, products, data tools, and public- and restricted-use datasets. Survey-specific modules present more detailed information about datasets from selected studies conducted by NCES. Currently, five sets of modules detailing nine NCES surveys are available. Module sets detailing additional survey and administrative datasets will be added annually.

Download Zipped PowerPoint Presentation:


X–I: Collaboration, Convergence, and Cost Containment—Using Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) and Ed-Fi to Drive Down Total Cost of Ownership While Accelerating Innovation and Delivering Longitudinal Data Solutions

Patrick Bush, Delaware Department of Education
Christina Kucek, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Dean Folkers, Nebraska Department of Education
Troy Wheeler, Ed-Fi Alliance

    This session will provide three state stories capitalizing on the convergence of Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) and how the adoption of the Ed-Fi technology suite speeds solution delivery, creates a conduit for state education agency collaboration, leverages interstate sharing, and promotes accelerated data conversations in a common language that wasn’t possible before.

X–J: Disclosure Avoidance in Public Reporting: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

Michael Hawes, U.S. Department of Education

    Using examples from various state education agency websites, this session will provide an overview of a number of disclosure avoidance methods commonly used to protect privacy in public reporting of tabular data, and some common pitfalls and mistakes to avoid.

Download Zipped PowerPoint Presentation and Handout:

Top