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Free Help: State Support Team Technical Assistance Services

2012 MIS ConferenceFebruary 15, 2012

Corey Chatis, State Support TeamJan Petro, CO Department of Education

Jay Pennington, IA Department of Education

Stock photo. Release for web use of all photo on file.

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What is the State Support Team?

Free help: technical assistance initiative of the SLDS program We are not Federal staff Available to all states, regardless of SLDS grant status

Who are we?

Experienced state data systems experts with expertise in early childhood, K-12, post-secondary, and P-20W sectors. See Meet the State Support Team document for brief bios.

What do we do?

• Provide individual and group assistance to states addressing a host of SLDS-related issues

• Facilitate communication and collaboration across states working on similar issues; share best practices among states

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Current Types of Technical Assistance

Multi-State Support

• SLDS P-20W Best Practice Conference• Public Domain Clearinghouse• Best Practices Briefs• Topical Working Groups• Topical Webinars

Individual State Support• Fast Response Webinars and Calls • State Support Team Technical Assistance (remote and on-site) • SLDS listserv• Personnel Exchange Network

For more information, see the Data System Support & Resources for States document.

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SST Services Overview

What are the SST Services?

More structured approach to technical assistance, focused on the foundational aspects of SLDS with the most common need among states.• Clearly defined purpose and deliverables

• Set of associated resources (templates, presentations, guides) for use with SST assistance, or for states to use on their own

Current services Project Planning and Management Data Governance Stakeholder Outreach CEDS Alignment

For more information, see the Core Services of the State Support Team document – handout in back of room.

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SST Services: Project Planning and Management

Purpose

To help states or agencies beginning the planning process and/or refining an existing plan within a specific sector or across sectors in support of their longitudinal data system initiative(s).

Sectors• Early Childhood

Deliverables Completed self-assessment. Project plan including an outlined mission, vision, purpose, timeline

and key milestones, and identified next steps (e.g., establish data governance).

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SST Services: Data Governance

Purpose

To help states initiate or continue to implement sector specific and/or P-20W data governance structures, roles, and processes in support of their longitudinal data system initiative(s).

Sectors• Early Childhood• K-12• P-20W

Deliverables Data governance policy Data governance manual Data governance role descriptions and responsibilities Data governance implementation or maturation plan (depending on status of data

governance at beginning of service engagement)

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CO’s Experience with Data Governance Service

Identified Need

• SLDS leadership team recognized needs

• No formal data decision-making process

• Data collection and ownership in silos

• Little administrative awareness and support

Assistance SST Provided• Met with SLDS Executive Steering Committee

• Met with CDE’s administration

• Discussed data governance best practices

• Shared ideas and documents from other states regarding governance

• Provided specific recommendations to move Colorado forward

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CO’s Experience with Data Governance Service

Results of Assistance

• Assisted other state agency Steering Committee members to understand data challenges

• Determined Colorado’s P20+ education essential questions

• Identified initial make-up of Data Management Committee

• Named agency-wide data governance coordinator

• Narrowed focus of critical data elements for building governance program

• Partnering with Office of Information Technology to align data governance efforts

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CO’s Experience with Data Governance Service

Next Steps for Agency• Create and ratify a CDE data governance policy

• Identify data stewards for all program areas

• Select other members of the Data Management Committee

• Assemble Data Management Committee and meet monthly

• Prioritize essential questions identified by Steering Committee

• Determine corresponding data elements needed for essential questions

• Develop a P20+ Data Governance Policy and establish a P20+ Data Steward Workgroup

• Define dependencies and touch points between the CDE and P20+ Data Governance programs

• Formulate and communicate P20+ Data Governance Program roles and responsibilities

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SST Services: Stakeholder Engagement

Purpose

To strategically engage all stakeholders, from policymakers to end users, in support of a longitudinal data system.

Sectors• Early Childhood• K-12• P-20W

Deliverables Stakeholder engagement plan

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IA’s Experience with State Support Team Services

Identified Need

• Initial support needs identified as part of the USDE site visit

• Building an image/descriptor of SLDS

• Services and support have evolved over time

Assistance SST Provided• Variety of support

• Monthly phone calls with support team member

• Specific project feedback

• Assistance facilitating stakeholder meetings – workforce and early childhood

• Review of project deliverables

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IA’s Experience with Stakeholder Engagement Service

Results of Assistance

• Stakeholder engagement deliverables are top notch

• Multiple phases have been completed

• Planning for the future

• Ongoing services

Next Steps for Agency• Reflection

• Action plan, strategic plan

• Dissemination campaign

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SST Services: Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) Alignment

Purpose

To facilitate and enable education data stakeholders in the alignment of their data to the Common Education Data Standard (CEDS).

Sectors• Early Childhood• K-12• P-20W

Deliverables Data System(s) Analysis CEDS Data Alignment

Note: Sessions on CEDS at 4:15 today and Thursday at 11:15 in Nautilus 5, and at 9:45 on Friday in Nautilus 2

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Contact Info and Resources:Corey Chatis, corey.chatis@sst-slds.org http://nces.ed.gov/Programs/SLDS/resources.asp http://nces.grads360.org

To Request SST Assistance:Fill out a TA Request

Form on GRADS

or email support@sst-slds.org

State Support Team Update