SPEARS Special Education Ad Hoc Reporting System SPEARS Question & Answer October 23, 2007 (Region 13)
Question #1 Q: Could you please provide additional information re: the PEIMS report used to generate the report (fall snapshot? summer entry?) A: Child Count – Fall Snapshot (110/163) Instructional Setting – Fall Snapshot (110/163) Disproportionality – Fall Snapshot (110/163) Exit – Fall, Summer (203/400/405), AEIS Disciplinary Action – Summer (425/400/405) Extended School Year – Summer (408/400/405)
Question #2 Q: When will we be able to search for a report by primary secondary and tertiary disability? A: Already have the ability to report on “primary disability.” The requested enhancement is to add reporting on “secondary” and “tertiary” disability. ETA is TBD.
Question #3 Q: When will the assessment data be added to SPEARS? A: TBD After revised assessments are fully implemented (TAKS-I, TAKS-ALT, etc.) Must be available in the data warehouse, an intermediate repository required for loading into SPEARS
Question #4 Q: Can the data be updated as PEIMS is updated rather than just twice a year? A: That is currently the process. As soon as data is made available through PEIMS, it is loaded into the Agency’s data warehouse, and then immediately into SPEARS.
Question #5 Q: Please review what is the most current year data is available on SPEARS. A: Child Count: Instructional Setting: Disproportionality: Exit: ( by Nov. 1) Disciplinary Action: ESY:
Question #6 Q: Will SPEARS provide data on those students who will not graduate within the 4 year period? A: Yes, available in SPEARS whenever a Leaver (203) Record is submitted No “cohort” data in SPEARS Leaver (203) Record does not indicate when the student entered the 9 th grade
Question #7 Q: Can you pull graduation data by type? If yes, how? A: Yes Review Exit training module (April 3, 2007) Graduation Type/Diploma Type on: Special Ed Graduates By Disability Special Ed Graduates By Ethnicity Exit Ad Hoc
Question #8 Q: How current is the data in this database? A: See answer to question #5 above.
Question #9 Q: Where is the data coming from (data source)? A: See answer to question #1 above.
Question #10 Q: Can Child Find data be added to SPEARS? A: Need clarification.
Question #11 Q: Is it possible to pull data by secondary, teritiary disability conditions? A: See answer to question #2 above.
Question #12 Q: What is the best way to pull the data for state performace plan indicators? A: Depends on the indicator. See me afterword to discuss specific indicators.
Question #13 Q: Is it possible to pull data for related services provided? A: Not currently Previously requested, so is on the enhancement list Will be evaluated and implemented if possible
Question #14 Q: Is it possible to pull data by gender? A: Currently: Instructional Setting “Gender By Disability” Instructional Setting Ad Hoc Future: Child Count Disproportionality
Question #15 Q: If PBMAS indicator 17 is criticized and a high need especially in those regions with high LEP populations, why has it not been added to the Disporportionality reports? A: No enhancement request to the “SPEARS Team” Better communication
Question #16 Q: Can reports be generated that utilize the same filters a PBMAS? A: Need clarification.
Question #17 Q: Can SPEARS help track a cohort of students for graduation and drop out? A: No, there is no cohort data available through SPEARS (and no plan to). Submit explicit data requests to the Agency
Question #18 Q: I am still confused which PEIMS submission we are looking at. A: See answer to question #1.
Question #19 Q: How far behind is it lagging? A: See answer to question #5.
Question #20 Q: Is it all from the same year? A: No. See answer to question #5.
Question #21 Q: Can SPEARS access EDIT and for a more timely report? A: No, for numerous reasons, data cannot be made available publicly until the PEIMS Edit collection process is completed.
Question #22 Q: It appears at times that the data conflicts with other sources of data (ie PBMAS)? A: There will be discrepancies based on the rules used to compile data. SPEARS goal was to provide a flexible, user-friendy data analysis tool to non-data experts; PBMAS has totally different purpose.
Question #23 Q: How can we get the percent of sped student with disabilities on each campus or a combination of campuses or by district? A: Need clarification on this percentage. Often percentage requirements require two reports, but usually can be done in SPEARS. Example: % of LD students at Austin HS 1. Disproportionality Ad Hoc to get denominator (SE, GE#) 2. Child Count Ad Hoc to get numerator (LD)
Conclusion Closing comments/questions s (subject line: SPEARS)