In addition, it would be great if states were using compatible systems so that data sharing between states would be possible. This would be useful in tracking students that move from state to state. As of right now, if a child moves from one state to another that does not have a compatible data system, a lot of information is lost. This even happens within states, when students move from district to district. Perhaps an effort to have compatible data analysis systems across districts, states and between K-12 and higher education, so data collection is continuous.
Having this data would inform important policy decisions, such as curriculum, and teaching.To learn more about what Secretary Duncan is requesting, please look at the NYTimes article.
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You are absolutely right about this issue of compatibility within and between states. I agree that the infrastructure is the primary need at this point. But as we both know, higher education is facing a similar set of data collection and data sharing challenges.
ReplyDeleteThe reality is that the K-12 and higher education systems are disjointed. We have seen in recent years, however, efforts to align and connect the two (early college and dual enrollment initiatives, P-16 councils, etc). I would hope, then, that in these data discussions, stakeholders and policymakers review an implementation analysis that takes into consideration what it would take to simultaneously handle the separate challenges associated with K-12 and higher education improving their data systems and the joint challenge of coordinating the two.