SIF Schools Interoperability Framework IASBO Conference – May,

Dave Moravec Business Development Integrity Technology Solutions Co-Lead of the SIF Association’s Marketing and Membership Committee Committee Participation: Certification, Implementation Task Force, Data Modeling Task Force IASBO Technology Committee Member

What do you know about SIF? Have heard of SIF? Do you have a basic understanding of SIF? Do you know other districts that have implemented SIF?

“Pains” Addressed by SIF Situational Fast growth Legacy systems Large enrollment Data Redundant data entry Data accuracy Data integrity Data latency Leverage entrenched legacy systems

SIS Network Accounts Cafeteria Library Transportation 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. ? ? ? ? ? SIF Review

Official Specification Releases August 31, 2001 Released February 6, 2003 Released October 11, 2004 Released June 27, 2000 Released 1.5r r11.0 SIF Reporting Web Services Specification Version 1.0 released October 18, Released 2.0 Released 2.0r1 October 18, 2006 June 19, 2007 Copyright © SIF Association

Two (2) Major Components of SIF 1. Infrastructure How you move data in a standard way 2. Data Model How you define the data in a standard format

1. Infrastructure How you move data HTTP/S Security Authentication Encryption Message based Asynchronous (like ) Reliable Adaptable to many scenarios Fast networks Slow networks School-based systems District-based systems State and federal systems

1. Infrastructure (continued) Zones and Zone Integration Servers A Zone is group of "systems" that want to share data Data flow among systems is controlled by the Zone Various "topologies" exit for zones A Zone Integration Server is a software server that can support one to many zones Agents and Applications SIF Agents connect software applications to zones/ZIS's Translate data between the application's format and the SIF data model

2. Data Model How you define the data Standard way to represent data in K12 schools Defined using XML (a standardized data language) SIF Objects StudentPersonal StaffPersonal SchoolInfo

Administrative Software Student Information System Food Service Transportation Library Science Directory Services Learning Management Parent Communications Special Education Healthcare Management Human Resources – Finance Maintenance & Inventory

Agents: The Universal Translator From an implementation perspective, SIF Agents have 2 “faces” Translate between your application and the SIF data model Responsible for generating and processing SIF objects ZIS Application Application “Native” SIF Data Model Agent

Applications of SIF Horizontal / Intra-District Application Facilitates the flow of data from system to system within the confines of a district System 1System 2 Entity 1 Entity 2 3 Basic Vertical Applications Facilitates the flow of data from a district to other entities District to District K-8 District  9-12 District District to State District to Federal

Novell E- Directory H.R. & Finance Grade Book Renaissance Place Follett Destiny Skyward VersaTrans WinSNAP Zone Integration Server (ZIS) SIF Agents Applications SIF Data Objects Required Software The SIF Language SIF Review

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”

Business Processes Data Entry for Students & Staff Network Account Management Associated Software Packages Student and Data Synchronization District Reports State Reports

SIF in Illinois Addison Elementary District 4 Bloomington District 87 Harlem Consolidated District 122 Huntley/Algonquin District 158 Lake Zurich District 95 McLean County Unit 5 Naperville District 203 Pekin Elementary District 108 Ottawa Elementary 141 St. Charles District 303 Tinley Park District 146

Implementation Examples Naperville, IL District 203 Huntley, IL District 158 Tinley Park, IL District 146

Consolidated 158 (Huntley/Algonquin)

Hard Costs: SIF Software Zone Integration Server Subscription vs. outright purchase Pricing models generally by district size Agents Varied pricing models Installation and configuration pricing

Hard Costs: Infrastructure Zone Integration Server Hardware Operating system Supporting software Agents may or may not need dedicated hardware Adequate bandwidth – T1 or better

Hard Costs: Consultants Consultants and integrators Provide advice and/or implementation services Prior SIF experience is required! Scope-based fees or hourly/daily rates Consider joining the SIF Association Networking opportunities Learn from others Communicate your needs

Soft Costs Mainly staff time for: Research Planning Training Implementation Support

Implementation vs. Operational Costs Implementation costs Up front investments Phasing can spread implementation costs over time Operational costs Resources to support and maintain the implementation Software subscriptions or maintenance fees ZIS hardware lifecycle

Financial Benefits Saving Money Reduce costs Creating and maintaining customizations and processes Purchasing data extraction software Maximize efficiency Staff time to run manual export/import processes Data entry time Quality and timeliness of data

Non-Financial Benefits SIF is the conduit for high quality data Combining… 1. Data quality 2. Teaching & learning and 3. SIF … results in improved student achievement Expedited user provisioning Improved productivity to students, teacher, administrator

Determining Your ROI

Cost-Benefit Example Network Account Creation and Management SIF capability Student directory accounts created at registration into SIS Example SIF is used to create and manage user accounts, eliminating the additional manual step as the student is enrolled Benefit Huge time savings to I.T. department Does your I.T. staff have more valuable ways to spend its time?

Cost-Benefit Example Transportation SIF capability Data accuracy & Saved data entry time Example SIF is used to update the transportation system data from the student information system as the student is enrolled in school Benefit Real time communication of bus stop information is possible for every student Potential liability issues are avoided How many phone calls could be saved? How much bad publicity could be avoided?

Cost-Benefit Example Library SIF capability Near real time information dissemination 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 How many books leave the district per year?

Cost-Benefit Example 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 Accurate free/reduced lunch count possible. How much additional funding could be generated?

Thank You! SIF Website: Integrity Website: Dave Moravec