Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate

Agenda 1.Best Practices Framework 2.Illinois Spotlights 3.Certification, SIF Budgeting and Planning 5.District-to-District Applications of SIF 6.Calculating ROI 7.Evaluating Your Readiness 8.Questions and Answers

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Before Getting Started… Review the Applications of SIF Intra District / “Horizontal” – what people generally associate with SIF; scope is inside a single district District to State / “Vertical” – being mandated in some states District to District / “E-Transcript” – new application for SIF with 2.0 specification

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Overview DirXML Network Account H.R. & Finance Data Analysis & Reporting Instructional Services Library Automation Student Information Services Grade Book Food Services –Zone Integration Server (ZIS) –SIF Agents –Applications –SIF Data Objects Required Software The SIF Language

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Best Practices Framework Pre-Planning –Evaluate How will your district benefit from SIF? Who are your SIF constituents (people)? What will your return on investment look like? –Plan How will you go about implementing SIF? What processes must change to make SIF effective? –Purchase SIF Compliant Software RFP language Implementing –Integrate Systems Using SIF –Related Initiatives

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Best Practices Framework Integrate –Prioritize your systems –Begin with SIS as first system (Power School, etc.) –Select a ZIS vendor that aligns to your infrastructure platform and needs (Edustructures, CPSI) –Other key systems Transportation (Versatrans, EduLog) Food Service (WinSnap/WebSmart, Nutrikids) Library (Destiny, Alexandria, Sagebrush) Directory (Active Directory, eDirectory)

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Best Practices Framework Other Related Initiatives –Data warehouse (“Consolidate” data) –Reporting and analytics (“Disseminate” data)

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF in Illinois Spotlight #1: Huntley/Algonquin School District #158 Spotlight #2: Naperville School District #203 Others: Addison District 4 Harlem Consolidated District 122 (Rockford area) McLean County Unit 5 (Normal)

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: Algonquin Community Unit School District 158 (Huntley/Algonquin, IL) District profile –6,000+ Students –200+ Teachers –Nearly 1000 New Students per year –Fast Growth grant recipient

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: Algonquin Community Unit School District 158 (Huntley/Algonquin, IL) Systems –SIS NCS Pearson CenterPoint –Transportation Versatrans RP –Identity SchoolLink My Card Microsoft Active Directory –Food Services SchoolLink WinSNAP –Library Follett Destiny

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: Algonquin Community Unit School District 158 (Huntley/Algonquin, IL) SIF Components –Single zone –CenterPoint: CPSI Universal Agent –Versatrans: Versatrans native agent –WinSNAP: WinSNAP native agent –MyCard: WinSNAP native agent –Active Directory (in process): CPSI VisualCASEL Agent for Active Directory/Exchange –Destiny: Destiny native agent

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: Algonquin Community Unit School District 158 (Huntley/Algonquin, IL) SIF Status –SIS, Transportation, Identity, Food Services, Library up and running –Directory is last system to be integrated

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate RoomInfo contains information about a specific room; includes room number, assigned staff, description, building, homeroom number, size, capacity, phone number, type of room SchoolInfo contains information about a specific school; includes local id or number, state assigned identifier, name, district, type, focus, principal information, address, session type, low grade, high grade StaffPersonal contains information about a staff member (teacher or other type of employee); includes local identifier, state identifier, barcode or other electronic ID, name, title, , demographics, address, phone number, URL StaffAssignment contains information about a staff member’s assignment; includes school year, description, job start date, job end date, FTE ratio, job function StudentContact Contains information about a parent, guardian, or other contact related to a student; includes type of contact (e.g. disciplinary, legal responsibility, etc.), name, phone number, , address, relationship, pickup rights StudentPersonal contains information about a student; includes alert message, local identifier, state identifier, bar code or other electronic identifier, name, , graduation year, demographics, address, phone StudentPicture contains an encoded picture or link to a picture StudentSchoolEnrollment contains information about a student’s enrollment in a specific school or schools; includes school identifier, membership type (e.g. home, concurrent), time frame, school year, enrollment status, entry date, entry type, grade level, home room, staff assigned, exit date, exit status, exit type, FTE ratio, residency status

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #2: Naperville Community Unit District 203 District profile –18,000+ Students –1,000+ Teachers Systems –SIS Maximus SchoolMAX –Parental Communications Parlant Technologies; ParentLink Software –Human Resources Carter-Pertain –Data Warehouse SPSS

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #2: Naperville Community Unit District 203 SIF Components –Multi-zone (per building) –SchoolMAX: CPSI Universal Agent –ParentLink: ParentLink native agent –Carter-Pertain: SQL Server DTS Based Process SIF Status –Integration of SchoolMAX, ParentLink, and Carter-Pertain complete –Data Warehouse currently being integrated

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #2: Naperville Community Unit District 203 SIF Data Warehouse Model

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Certification, SIF 2.0

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate A non-profit membership organization comprised of: -pK-12 Educational Technology Companies -Regional Service Agencies -Schools & Districts -U.S. and State Departments of Education -Other educational organizations Jointly building XML Specifications to enable pK-12 software applications to share data quickly, dynamically and securely. “Platform Independent / Vendor Neutral” About SIF

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Certification Do the homework on your apps to see if they are SIF What if you have applications that are not certified? 1.Publish or subscribe scenario? Universal Agent is a good choice when you need a Publisher that is not certified (e.g. CenterPoint) 2.Talk to the vendor. Preferably a technical contact responsible for SIF. Generally, the help desk is not good a source of information. 3.Talk to Integrity. We develop agents and can work with you and the vendor to create a solution that meets your needs and their needs.

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Specification R1 (current) 2.0 (summer/fall 2006)

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Specification 2.0 Profiles New Objects Other Improvements

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Budgeting and Planning Resources –Hardware Zone Integration Server Database Server Agent Server –Software Application Upgrades (to SIF compliant versions) Zone Integration Server SIF Agents Universal Agent Custom Agent

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Budgeting and Planning Resources –Staff Network Administrator Database Administrator Subject Matter Expert for Each System to be Integrated Users of Each System to be Integrated –External Consultant

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Budgeting and Planning Low/High Depends on Size Hardware –$5,000 to $15,000 Software –$5,000 to $50,000 Time –10’s to 100’s of hours

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Applications of SIF Intra-district District to State District to Federal District to District

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Current Process for Communicating Student Information For each associate elementary district –Electronic Extract data from Student Management System Modify data Write data to media Convey media to HS Work with HS to revise data as needed –Manual Gather paperwork Assemble paperwork Deliver paperwork

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate For the high school district –For each elementary electronic data set Massage data Verify data Work with elementary district to revise data Import data into student management system Import data into ancillary systems –For each elementary manual data set Enter data into student management system Enter data into ancillary systems File paperwork Current Process for Communicating Student Information

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate High School District Agent ZIS K - 8 District #3 Agent K - 8 District #1 Agent K – 8 District #2 Agent Legend Event Request Response Association Zone eTranscript Choreography K -8 District #4 Agent SIF _Request: “Please send the transcripts” SIF _Response: “Here are the transcripts” SIF _Event: “Time for matriculation”

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Benefits of eTranscript Reduce cost of moving student information among districts Empower collaboration among associated districts Encourage innovation Allow individual district systems to remain heterogeneous Maintain “local control” of information systems Provide individual districts with a level of technical capability that can be applied in other applications of SIF Take advantage of economies of scale

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Benefits/ROI Data is entered only once and is shared seamlessly and almost immediately with other applications. Allows applications to exchange data more effectively without time- consuming imports or expensive custom import programs. Enables powerful report creation by accessing data from diverse applications. No need to manage multiple data sources Real-time access to important information and opportunities for better data analysis. Ease the burden of vertical reporting

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Benefits/ROI Teachers –Real-time access to critical information –Better data analysis –Teachers time better spent Students & Parents –Personalized Student Content –Improved timeliness of service –Accurate School Data –Increased Efficiency IT Departments –Reduced support costs –Reduced time needed to manage multiple data sources –Save money using existing systems and infrastructure Administrators –Increased Efficiency –Reduced redundancy and errors –Reduced compatibility issues

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate District Return On Investment New Student Registering for Enrollment into: *Student Information System*Directory Service Application *ID Card System*Library Automation System *Cafeteria Management System Typical SchoolSIF School - 49 minute task- 4 minute task - 10 times data entered- 1 time data entry 45 minutes/student X 18,000 students= 6 FTE’s! 1/10 th the Time – 1/10 th the Risk

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Additional ROI Examples Library –SIF capability Near real time data exchange –Example SIF is used to send the school media services specialist an when a student is leaving the district –Benefit The media specialist can coordinate the return of all materials prior to the student’s departure Additional interaction with the student prior to departure. Potential opportunity to help student transition.

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Additional ROI Examples Food Services –SIF capability Data accuracy –Example SIF is used to update the student management system with meal status information that is stored in the food services system –Benefit District administrators have the most accurate free/reduced lunch count possible Potential source of additional funding

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Additional ROI Examples Assessment Reporting –SIF capability Data integrity and accuracy –Example SIF is used to intersect demographic data stored in the student management system with ISAT results –Benefit Administrators, principals and teachers can run reports that utilize the most accurate set of demographics for students

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Tools for Evaluating Your Readiness SIF Website –Information –Implementation Readiness Tool Online tool to help you determine your readiness for SIF –Implementation Toolkit Planning Questions Proposed RFP Language

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Questions & Answers

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Thank You! For Your Time and Interest in SIF Visit our K-12 Website at: Jason Wrage Dave Moravec

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Profile Leverages Existing Standards –SPEEDE/ExPRESS / IMS / NCES Customizable –Gives schools & districts ability to determine data flow, security requirements & specify state code requirements Platform Independent/Vendor Neutral –Open standards (XML, TCP/IP, HTTP / HTTPS) –Published specification

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIS Network Accounts Cafeteria Library Transportation Traditional Setup The situation in many schools and school systems is that there are a series of software applications which all may require the same data, but which have no way to talk to each other. It may be possible for one or two applications to share data through proprietary methods, but open, dynamic and synchronized data sharing does not occur. ? ? ? ? ?

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Attendance/ Grades Food Services Program / Placement School Address StaffMedical Enrollment Student Demographics Library Transportation Instruction

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Answering Horizontal Questions Data Warehousing K12 Data Model Food Service Grade Book HR / Finance Library SIS Transportation Instructional Services Voice Telephony Accountability, Reporting, Planning, etc…

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Traditional District Information Systems Applications and their data are segregated from one another Redundant data entry is common Disconnected applications increase support costs Data reporting is costly and inefficient Data is inaccessible to decision makers

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Message Types Events (Add, Change, Delete) –Real-Time Data Exchange - Events are published as they occur Request/Response –Can load info all at once –Can request additional info for analysis and reporting Asynchronous messaging –Guaranteed once only delivery –Persistent message queues for Agent & ZIS

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Vertical Interoperability Seamless reporting - district, state, federal Reduce burden on schools & districts Use ‘management’ data as core data set for reporting –Responding to changes as they occur rather than reacting on an annual basis Data driven decision making –Collecting & analyzing information as it is developed –Data warehousing and data mining –Using business tools to analyze administrative functions

Create New User < SMS The ZIS knows that the Network Operating System subscribes to SMS messages, so it passes along the information to the NOS. The NOS creates a new student in the network directory based on the information that was entered in the Student Management System. No user intervention required! At the same time, with no user intervention, the ZIS sends a copy of the new student’s information to the Data Warehouse. This starts the data collection process for this student. AdministratorsTeachersParents Administrators and Teachers may utilize the Reporting System to obtain an aggregate view of information about the student. All systems dealing with relevant student information contribute to the data warehouse. Web Portal A new student is entered into the student management system. The SMS publishes a message to the ZIS. Using the District’s Web Portal, parents may utilize the Reporting System to view their child’s progress.

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Compliance Officially launched on April 25, 2003 Provides 3 rd party validation of application conformance with the specification Provides confidence for purchasers Provides validation for vendors Tests application functionality Verifies data delivery There are currently 33 applications certified with many more in the testing stage

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate Over 140 members – new added from each type each week Specification serving over 2.5 million students, teachers and tech coordinators Legislatively mandated in one state Requested in more than a dozen current or planned state RFP’s Currently 33 certified applications Expanding from student/administrative data into curriculum, content and other industry “verticals” Increased mechanisms for “end user input” and direction Focus on best practices documentation and sharing What is SIF’s current status?

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5 (Normal, IL) District profile –11,000+ Students –700 Teachers –Fast Growth grant recipient Systems –SIS Skyward PaC Formerly NCS Pearson CIMS on iSeries

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5 (Normal, IL) –Transportation VersaTrans –Identity Novell eDirectory –Library Gateway (iSeries)

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5 (Normal, IL) –Special Education KIDS (FileMaker based)

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5 (Normal, IL) SIF Components –Single zone –Zone Integration Server CPSI SIF Connect Server

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5 (Normal, IL) – Agents Skyward: CPSI Universal Agent Versatrans: Versatrans native agent Gateway: CPSI Universal Agent and Integrity developed custom SIF agent FileMaker: Integrity developed custom SIF agent eDirectory: Novell NSure Identity Manager for Education (formerly DirXML) and

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5 (Normal, IL) SIF Status –In place for 2 years –Upgraded to Skyward this past summer –In process of migrating SIF to Skyward using Universal Agent and upgrading to 1.5R1 –Will then implement Authentication object in 1.5R1 to support password synchronization among various applications

Integrate, Consolidate, Disseminate SIF Spotlight #1: McLean County Unit 5