1. ESE Data Initiatives District, School and Charter School Leaders
Bob Bickerton, Associate Commissioner
Jessica Perez-Rosello, CIO
May 2009

2. Agenda Purpose of 2 New Data Initiatives SIMS Expansion
SIF (Schools Interoperability Framework)
Next Steps

3. Why?
If we are going to continue to improve the education of students in Massachusetts we must have an expanded data set to help districts, educators and policy makers answer critical questions.
In meeting this goal, we must find ways to provide efficient systems to collect and report a growing body of student and staff information.

4. The Missing Data Link SIMS = valuable student information
EPIMS = valuable staffing and instructional settings (e.g., “classes”) information
What is missing:
ability to better understand what is happening in the classroom at the student level
ability to analyze the impact of investments from educator preparation to student instruction.

5. National Perspective
Title IIA – analysis requires reporting the rate of HQ educators teaching low-income students
ARRA Fiscal Stabilization Funds – Governors Assurances
19 States currently have the ability to link student and teacher data and analyze data at the classroom level
Massachusetts is one step away from answers to key policy and program evaluation questions

6. Critical Unanswered Questions
Which courses are students enrolled in?
What is the effect of class size and teacher student load on student performance?
What is the average class size in MA?
What is the course completion rate and what grades/marks are awarded to students?
How does this success relate to performance on other measures like MCAS, readiness for college and/or for work?
Which instructional models (i.e. - curriculum, school schedules) are most successful?
Which teacher preparation programs are most effective?

7. District Data Analysis
Some districts are trying to do this level of analysis on their own with local data in the Education Data Warehouse
This can require a substantial effort
Benefits limited to one district at a time
Analysis should be available for all districts to use

8. Possible Report A B C D F

9. Possible Report Math English Science History School Avg. Class Size
Math
English
Science
History
School
Avg. Class Size
Taft
19.0
22.0
25.0
Jefferson
23.0
28.0
24.0
Adams
20.0
23.5
26.0
Lincoln
21.5
26.5
Kennedy
25.5
Johnson
24.5
29.0

10. Possible Report

11. Two Data Collection Initiatives to Support Decision Making
SIMS Expansion
collect student course information
Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF)
– new technology to reduce reporting burden

12. 2009 – 2011 SIMS Expansion Project
Add student course level information to the October 2010 SIMS collection
Add the capability to also collect student completion and grades/marks in October 2011
Student and educator data will be linked in the Education Data Warehouse for data analysis
Standard reports provided for district analysis

13. SIMS Expansion Project Timeline
Hi Level Design Complete
5/30/09
Project Kickoff
Regional Information Sessions
Data Collection Pilot Release 3/1/10
Collaboration begins with Pilot Districts
Statewide Collection 10/01/10
Pilot Data Loaded into DW
Application Enhancements Completed
Pilot Information Delivery
Oct
Sept
Aug
July
June
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
April
Development & Testing Completed
2010

14. SIMS Expansion Goals
Gather student course information in October 2010, course completion and grades/marks in SY
Load the information into the Education Warehouse providing valuable analytical tools
Align the ESE data collection systems more closely with the LEA data systems
Improve the collection method of HQT status to minimize reporting burden at the local level
Additional EPIMS Collections
Improve the coordination of SIMS / EPIMS data collection by establishing the District Data Coordinator role

15. One Proposed View of SIMS Expansion Project
Student Schedule
EPIMS Staff Roster
EPIMS Work Assignment
Current Version with HQ
Proposed EPIMS Work Assignment
Modified Version with out HQ OR
Modified HQT
Information provided based on prior HQT reporting
Remains the same
New

16. SIMS Expansion Project Questions?

17. SIF Implementation

18. SIF Collection Effort Goals
Introduce new technology
Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF)
$6M USED Longitudinal Data Systems Grant
Automate the delivery of data from districts to ESE
Move towards a less labor intensive, more transactional data model
Minimize district reporting burden

19. Long Range Vision to Minimize LEA Data Collection Efforts
District systems are upgraded to be SIF compliant
Department systems are able to automatically retrieve the required data elements from district (SIF) systems with less LEA staff time
More timely data is organized and loaded into EDW for immediate use by teachers, school and district leaders, and ESE

20. What is the SIF Specification?
Not a product, but a technical blueprint for pK-12 software.
Document that defines accepted rules
Describes the data (what) + infrastructure (how)
Provides a complete set of rules from start to finish
Manages data within the pK-12 environment
Enables diverse applications to interact and share data

21. SIF Zones Concepts Logical grouping of applications, agents, and ZIS
Highly flexible and scalable
District Zone
State Zone
Library
Automation
Food
Services
Student
Information System
Network Account
Transportation
Student
Information System
No predefined size or structure… specific to your implementation
Grant Funding available for vertical agent development
Other agents available for local systems

22. SIF Resources SIF Association Non-profit organization
Members include vendors, local school districts and state education organizations
Schools FAQ -
Vendor Information

23. What are the Benefits of SIF?
Student and Parent see improved timeliness of service and accurate school data across all systems.
District IT Departments report a reduction in support costs and large cost savings by using existing applications and infrastructure.
Schools & Districts
Regional Service Centers & States
Policy Makers gain real time access to data for critical decision making.
Reduction in the SIMS/EPIMS reporting burdens placed on districts.
Vendors and Consultants
Developers recognize a decrease in development time and less “tailored” development.
Sales and Marketing identify the formation of partnerships, international opportunities and greater response to the end user community.

24. Proposed SIF Project Timeline
Hi Level Design Complete
9/30/09
Regional Information Sessions
SIF Pilot Release – Phase 1
District Grant Announcement
Application Enhancements Completed
Oct
Sept
Aug
July
June
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
April
Development & Testing Completed
2010
SIF Architecture available
SIF Pilot Release – Phase 2

25. Summary Two Data Collection Initiatives
SIMS Expansion
Project underway
Will impact all districts in October 2010
SIF
Project to begin in May 2009
Grant opportunity for estimated 30 – 40 districts

26. Next Steps District Surveys
Gather additional SIS and HR system information
SIMS Expansion Pilot district volunteers
Strongly recommend identifying a District Data Coordinator
Available soon in Directory Administration
ESE begin collaboration with Pilot Districts on SIMS Expansion Project
ESE & Districts outreach to SIS and HR vendors

27. Summary Two Data Collection Initiatives
Oct
Sept
Aug
July
June
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
April
2010
SIMS Expansion
Development with Pilot Districts
ESE/Vendor Conversations
Pilot data to EDW
Statewide Collection
SIF Technology
Grant Process
SIF Architecture
Collaboration & Pilot w/ Grant Districts
Pilot Collection

28. Contact Information
Jessica Perez-Rossello, CIO
Helene Bettencourt, Manager of Data Collection
Maryann Donie, Data Collection Support Supervisor