This Month's ESP Optimal Reference Guide: Graduation Rates: Failing Schools or Failing Formulas? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and receive a complimentary ESP Optimal Reference Guide sent directly to your email inbox each month! Just click on the monthly newsletter link, fill in the fields provided, and hit submit. Emails are sent mid-month.   Search ESP Publications: A. Last Month's Optimal Reference Guide The Reauthorization of FERPA ESP's Optimal Reference Book - an up-to-date, single source of insightful information containing Optimal Reference Guides: Guidelines for Accessing Student Data in a State Longitudinal Database, Confidentiality and Reliability Rules for Reporting Educatio B. Data Quality The Data Quality Imperative, Data Quality Series Part I Part I of the series ties together the foundations of data quality from the formal information systems literature with the practical aspects of data quality in the arena of public education decision making. The Data Quality Manual, Data Quality Series Part II Part II furthers the journey into achieving data quality from start to finish. The best practices and principles included are time-tested and gleaned from conventional wisdom in conjunction with further insights from years of real school experience. C. Data Management Actions Speak Louder than Data ESP's paper defines a framework for designing and producing action reports for better data driven decision making. Data Management Strategy for States and Districts Data driven decision making relies on getting the right data, in the right way, right away, and getting them right in the process. ESP's paper explains how the right data management makes this happen. Defining Data We have become very demanding of our data. ESP's paper discusses the nature of the data that we use to define our schools, student academic progress, and accountability indicators. From Information to Insight - the point of indicators ESP's paper works backward to locate, collect, and synthesize the various data, information, knowledge, insights, indicators, and indexes that will help form the action an educator wants to make. Management of an Education Information System Best practice has been consolidated into a comprehensive guide for managing an education agency’s information system. ESP’s contract’s with individual SEAs and with the USED contributed insights into effective policy and practice. Our Vision for D3M ESP’s mission is to enhance data driven decision making (D3M). The D3M Alliance introduces a proven, replicable architecture addressing enterprise interoperability, identity management, vertical reporting, and longitudinal data management. Using Assessment Results to Get Performance Results Is all of the data gathered in education leading to information overload or are they data that can be readily used to support decisions made at the school level as well as the federal level? Find out with this Optimal Reference Guide from ESP. Why Eva Baker Doesn't Seem to Understand Accountability -- The Politimetrics of Accountability Formative assessment has been under-valued and under-funded in education. ESP's paper presents the case of why we would all benefit from separate accountability and formative assessments. D. Longitudinal Data Systems Accessing Student Records in a State Longitudinal Database, Data Warehouse Series, Part III FERPA is just the start of policy and practice issues impacting how education data are managed. ESP’s Optimal Reference Guide is the third in a series focused on data driven decision making and the development of effective data warehouses. D3M Checklist for a Longitudinal Data System ESP's paper provides a checklist of the components an education agency needs to deliver an information system that truly supports Data Driven Decision Making. D3M Framework for Building a Longitudinal Data System Our Optimal Reference Guide describes the steps for building a longitudinal data system depicted in our 11x17 process illustration, "New ESP Framework for Data-Driven Decision Making." PowerPoint Presentation for Longitudinal Grant Collaborative Process Illustration: New ESP Framework for Data-Driven Decision Making The D3M Framework is a high-level picture that immediately makes sense of how education data move within an enterprise education information system and into the view of the person responsible for making decisions based on these data. The Dash between PK and 20 - A roadmap for PK-20 longitudinal data systems ESP's recommendations for a PK-20 longitudinal data system. What's Behind Your Data Warehouse, Data Warehouse Series, Part II The second in a series of Optimal Reference Guides on data warehousing details the design, structure, and configuration parameters of a data warehouse. What's Really ”In Store” for Your Data Warehouse? Data Warehouse Series, Part I The Optimal Reference Guide series introduces data warehousing by defining what it is and what it is not. This paper just may help you answer whether a data warehouse is a necessary component of your overall information system. E. Project Management From Risk to Reward - A Guide to Risk Management, Project Management Series, Part II Risk can cause damaging delays or even kill a project. Our paper defines risks as they pertain to an education agency's environment, alerts agencies to potential risks, and details our methodology for managing risks in large scale projects. Marketing Your Field of Dreams ESP's paper covers obtaining and sustaining project buy-in using marketing techniques. Why 70 Percent of Government IT Projects Fail, Project Management Series, Part I Education agencies have certain challenges that make them different than other businesses. Our paper explains why industry-standard project management methodologies fall short in delivering the results required of education agencies. F. Standards Articulating the Case for Course Numbers ESP believes that the implementation of common course classification systems across the country and the crosswalking of them together is an essential next step for education agencies. Confidentiality and Reliability Rules for Reporting Education Data This comprehensive report fleshes out the confidentiality and reliability issues that states encounter when reporting education data. Confidentiality and Statistical Reliability -- Step-by-Step Instructions What criteria should SEA's use when establishing the rules and selecting a minimum? FERPA: Catch 1 through 22 ESP's Optimal Reference Guide discusses ways to bring FERPA in line with today's technology and information practices and makes a clear case for a rewrite. National Education Data Standardization Efforts Dr. Barbara Clements has seen education data standards evolve over the years and provides her historical perspective on their genesis and significance. Racial/Ethnic Data Reporting in Education ESP's Optimal Reference Guide discusses why it is crucial to begin planning now for changes in reporting requirements for race/ethnicity. Recommended Data Elements for EDEN Reporting EDEN/EdFacts presents mandates that change the landscape for SEAs reporting to USED. This ESP's recommended list of proposed data elements for collection of unit-level data needed for EDEN reporting provides our insights into how an SEA can comply. G. Electronic Transcripts Case Study of Electronic Transcript System Electronic Student Records and Transcripts: The SEA Imperative ESP’s Optimal Reference Guide directly tackles the issue of why SEAs should be involved in electronic student records exchange and the importance of standards-based electronic student records. eSchool News Article on Electronic Transcripts A New Solution for Electronic Transcripts, by Robert Brumfield, provides insight into the technologies of electronic transcripts and describes an advanced solution provided by the National Transcript Center. Process Illustration: Electronic Transcripts: Improved Speed, Efficiency, and Security The future of the electronic exchange of student records and transcripts is detailed in this illustration of ESP's National Transcript Center (NTC). Why Your State Needs a PK-20 Electronic Record/Transcript System If your state is thinking of implementing an electronic record/transcript system -- read this FIRST! Our paper explains why your state should consider a single PK-20 solution, not one that just handles "High School to College" transactions. H. Trends in Education Data Driven Decision Making 2016 ESP's Optimal Reference Guide makes predictions about the future of education information technology. How Education Information Fared in the Last Decade This ESP Optimal Reference Guide reviews Dr. Glynn Ligon's 1996 documented predictions about the future of data driven decision making in education. IT Defined...for the Educator ESP's paper focuses on easy-to-understand definitions of complex IT terminology and concepts. We explain why these terms are relevant and what they mean in today's education environment. IT Defined...for the Educator, v.2.0 We published our first version of this Optimal Reference Guide last year. Because of its popularity, we've released a new version (v.2.0) with more definitions and better usability (linked terms). Why My Space Matters to the K-12 Space ESP's Optimal Reference Guide discusses the online social networking trend and why it matters to K-12 enterprise system design. I. Identifiers Requirements for an RFP for Student Identifiers This comprehensive reference guide provides a template for state education agencies when they are preparing an RFP for the assignment of statewide student IDs. Statewide Student Identifier Systems This comprehensive report fleshes out the issues that states encounter when assigning statewide student identifiers. J. Disaster Prevention and Recovery Disaster Prevention and Recovery for School System Technology This presentation lays out the compelling case for disaster prevention and recovery planning. Disaster Prevention and Recovery for School System Technology Existing disaster recovery planning guides tend to focus on business technology architecture - not school system realities. ESP's whitepaper discusses conventional wisdom and best practices for education agencies. Disaster Prevention and Recovery Planning Steps This presentation describes the steps required to complete a comprehensive disaster prevention and recovery planning process. K. Presentations Data for Instructional Improvement How can quality data impact the instructional process? (Presentation for the Learning Point conference on data quality) Every 1 Matters (Data Quality) Data quality requires standards and discipline. Everyone and every datum matter in the pursuit of data quality. (Presentation for the Iowa Data Quality Conference) Max Yield Data -- Data that everyone agrees is worth the effort Data that everyone agrees are worth the effort to collect and report are max yield data. (Presentation for the SEA Chiefs’ meeting in Lake Tahoe) L. Process Illustrations and Supporting Documents A Technology Framework to Support NCLB Accountability and Assessment This white paper, commissioned by the U.S. Secretary of Education details the infrastructure described in the Illustration. This review shows how states can best evaluate their status for No Child Left Behind. Process Illustration: A Technology Framework for No Child Left Behind Success Commissioned by the U.S. Secretary of Education, this illustration describes the technology infrastructure required to ensure NCLB success. Process Illustration: Secretary to Secretary -- The Path from Data to Decisions ESP's most popular illustration shows how data move from schools, to districts, to states, to federal levels - within applications to data driven decisions. Process Illustration: State Report Manager (SRM) - The Fast Track to Efficient State Reporting Can quality, timely data really move from districts to SEAs in weeks rather than months? See how ESP's State Report Manager saves SEA's time, money, and resources. Process Illustration: Steps for Ensuring Data Quality See how decisionmakers can gain confidence in and rely upon data. Secretary to Secretary: The Path from Data to Decisions - An ESP Report This whitepaper enhances to above illustration with an innovative look at how data travel from a school secretary all the way to the Secretary of Education. Steps for Ensuring Data Quality - An ESP Report A supplement to the illustration; this document details Best Practices for how to get quality data. Search other publications: 100 Largest School Districts, in spreadsheet format An Excel file of large urban school districts. EDFacts -- A High Level Overview This Power Point presentation from USED tells you exactly what you need to know. NCES Handbooks Online The NCES Data Handbooks provide guidance on consistency in data definitions and maintenance for education data, so that such data can be accurately aggregated and analyzed. SIF Implementation Readiness Toolkit SIF and ESP Solutions Group have developed this tool for schools, districts, and states to begin and continue working toward data interoperability and automated vertical reporting. The National Education Technology Plan ESP's President and CEO, Dr. Glynn D. Ligon contributed Action Step and Recommendation #7 - "Integrate Data Systems."         About ESP • Solutions • Clients • News • Contact ESP • Site Map For more information call 512-879-5300