I wanted to thank all of those who participated on the call earlier today.
We had some good discussions. Here are the notes from the call. The notes
will also be posted within the next few days on our website at
http://www.psocenter.org/CofP2010.html. Please contact me directly at
rkell...@uoregon.edu with any questions related to today's call.
-----------
Ryan Kellems, Ph.D.
Research Associate
National Post-School Outcomes Center
Secondary Special Education & Transition
University of Oregon
(541) 346-3218
rkell...@uoregon.edu
Community of Practice November 18, 2010
Participants
Amy, NH Bobbie Grammer, NC Mary Kampa, WI Debra Donavan, MS Janice, ID
Karen Rabren, AL NPSO: Ryan Kellems , Deanne Unruh, Charlotte Alverson
States: Judy Jons & Dana Manning, KY Jennifer King, NV Bill, NJ Let us know
if we misspelled your name or didn¹t include you on the list!
Notes are not verbatim but rather an attempt to capture the essence of what
is shared. Please alert us if there are glaring errors!
Announcements & Reminders:
Secondary Transition State Planning Institute: May 17-21, 2011
Become a Superstar: Take the Survey
The video is now available to watch and download directly on the NPSO
website for those who have YouTube blocked. The page where the videos can
be accessed is http://www.psocenter.org/superstar.html
Topic: SLDS (Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems) FAQ and Indicator 14 Data
Dictionary
Overview of what an SLDS is:
SLDS is a data system that links data across agencies or data within
agencies such as linking special and general Education data or k-12 data
with post-secondary data. Many states have been given federal grants to
establish SLDS systems. The goal of this grant program is to link Early
Childhood, K-12, Post-secondary and labor data. Information about the IES
SLDS program can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/
<http://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/> . Specific information about your
state including a copy of it¹s SLDS grant application (if is currently has a
grant) can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/stateinfo.asp
<http://nces.ed.gov/programs/slds/stateinfo.asp>
States shared whether their state had SLDS grants. States then shared how
special education, or specifically Indicator 14 data, are being linked with
their SLDS. Overall, states seem to be initiating conversations with their
SLDS staff of what Indicator data are collected and needs to be
incorporated. These conversations are leading to understanding the data
available and how to link these data to their existing data
NPSO role in SLDS
The NPSO¹s role related to states
1. Assist states in making sure post-school outcomes (e.g., current PSO
survey data) data are tied back to their states data system (SLDS)
2. Assist states who want to explore using already collected extant data
to report Indicator 14
How are states currently using PSO data?
NV: senior exit survey and 1 year out data. With all LEA special education
directors, to examine statewide data and share how the states use these data
for improvement. Then provide them with LEA data and provide a model for how
to use these data at the LEA for improvement efforts.
KY: Exit survey and 1 year out data. Provide SEA, regional, and district
level through graphic display to localities. They are working on linking
exit and PSO survey to achievement data. Issues have been cleaning the data
and basic data management issues (e.g., getting rid of duplicates, or
student ID is inputted wrong at local level so it causes problems to merge
data across multiple data sets). We are examining whether we should have a
central database where the student ID is pre-populated to be accessed by the
local districts for data entry. The SEA has questions whether the current
definitions for Indicator 14 can be captured with extant data.
NJ: Data are currently not being linked.
NH: Not currently linked. This year we will be providing the district level
data back to the LEAs. Are initiating the student ID and a data portal that
all data will be linked and this is in process; so districts will be able to
access all their data including Indicator 14 down the line.
NC: Each LEA that are surveyed receive a summary report of their data and
each LEA turns in an improvement plan that includes Indicator 1-15. The
additional accountability data are included in these reports.
WI: Is developing inter-agency relationships regionally across WI. Indicator
14 data are used during these meetings to describe this process. This year
they are focusing on employment data and helping teachers make meaning of
these data to inform practice.
AL: Local plans are developed using the data to inform them in the
improvement activities. They are working further to share/link data within
their data base.
MS: The LEA actually enters the I 14 survey data into the student
information center. Districts have reports available to them, but have no
activities have been developed yet to help districts use these data
internally.
SLDS FAQ:
A draft of the FAQ was reviewed across several of the major questions.
States responded to several of the questions for where there state was at in
answering the questions.
What questions were not included in this document?
Confidentiality guidelines guidance
Indicator 14 Data Dictionary:
The purpose of the Indicator 14 Data Dictionary is to assist State Education
Agencies (SEA) as they identify and define what student level data elements
are needed to accurately report Indicator 14 to the Office of Special
Education Programs (OSEP). The data dictionary is meant to be a guide for
SEAs as they begin the process of using their Statewide Longitudinal Data
System (SLDS) to report Indicator 14.
Strategies for use: The data dictionary can be used by SEAs to inform data
managers and other IT related personnel what student level data elements are
needed in a state¹s longitudinal data system to accurately report Indicator
14. The definitions provided are generic and general and intended to be
used as a starting point for states wishing to include Indicator 14 data in
their Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems. Some of the data elements may
need to be calculated by looking at other data sources. For example when
determining hourly wage Unemployment Insurance Wage Records give the total
amount of compensation paid to an individual over a three month period. To
figure the hourly wage it would be necessary to first determine the total
number of hours worked during the reporting period and then divide that by
the total compensation.
Any new topics for CofP:
· Increasing response rates: State sharing strategies
· Data Privacy Issues:
· How to get buy-in from Students & Parents for Indicator 14 (Pacer
Tools)
Mark your calendar for upcoming NPSO CoP calls:
Date Topic Presenter
January 13th Contacting hard to reach populations NPSO Staff
February 10th Tools for marketing post-school outcomes survey/ examining
adequacy of current survey NPSO Staff
March 10th SLDS NPSO Staff
April 14th Revised Indicator 14 Data Use Toolkit NPSO Staff
May 12th Training Data Collectors NPSO Staff
