Have you ever wondered what the topic of interoperability is all about? Interoperability is more than just a technical term. It is the key to seamless communication between different data systems, applications, and devices. In education, this means removing barriers so that educational technology and data systems can work together effectively, ultimately improving the educational experience for leaders, staff, professionals, teachers, students, and parents. .
However, achieving interoperability is complex, and educational service agencies (ESAs) play a vital role in this context. We provide a variety of support services to local education agencies (LEAs), such as schools and school districts, to help them implement education initiatives, avoid regulations, and improve educational outcomes. The ESA often provides guidance, training, and support to his LEAs regarding the selection, implementation, and integration of edtech products into educational programs.
EdSurge recently spoke with representatives from ESA to learn more about the importance of collaboration to enable data interoperability across educational institutions and edtech providers. Without interoperability, data silos emerge, making it difficult for stakeholders to access and use the full range of functionality that different edtech products have to offer.Adoption of data standards such as Ed-Fi data standardenables educational institutions to integrate multiple systems and tools, securely share data, and effectively leverage technology to improve teaching, learning, and administrative processes.
Tammy Evans, Kimberly Nidhi and jeff pendill They are among the leading proponents. For Director Evans, Michigan Data Hub (MiDataHub), the adoption of the Ed-Fi Data Standard not only addressed the pressing challenge of fragmented student data, but also standardized data practices, transforming Michigan’s education data landscape and helping more than 880 LEAs Directly impacted 1.5 million students. Nidy is a Certified Educational Technology Leader. North Canton City Schools Ohio State also emphasized the importance of developing a dashboard to query live gradebooks to better support the district’s teachers, administrators, and 4,300 students with real-time data . Mr. Pendill said: [College, Career and Military Readiness] CCMR Insight Dashboard in Region 10 Educational Service Center (ESC) In Texas, interoperability has been a long-standing focus in the region, which supports 130 LEAs in data management. North Canton said he just launched the dashboard in fall 2023, but the Hub and CCMR Insights have been in operation for several years.
EdSurge: What benefits has your organization experienced since implementing Ed-Fi Data Standard?
Nidhi: North Canton City Schools has a functioning dashboard and has already started building a narrative about what’s happening in the classroom. We plan to address resources, difficult conversations, pedagogical practices, and grading policies. With access to this data, the possibilities are endless.
Evans: MiDataHub now offers enhanced interoperability, cost efficiency, and real-time insights. Ed-Fi Alliance data standards establish true interoperability capabilities by seamlessly integrating disparate systems and tools without expensive exchanges. This streamlines operations and allows the district to leverage existing technology. As a non-profit organization with zero licensing fees, they have provided cost-effective solutions to the state of Michigan. By eliminating costs associated with building and maintaining education dashboards through integrated district and vendor management, the district has realized significant savings.
In collaboration with Ed-Fi Alliance, educators now have complete visibility into student performance in real-time. This agility allows teachers to adapt learning plans to meet the needs of individual students. Additionally, the system reduces the time it takes to create reports, allowing educators to access accurate reports with just a few clicks.
The Michigan Data Hub is now at the forefront of interoperability. Implementation of the Ed-Fi data standard has seamlessly integrated diverse systems and tools across the district and ISD. [intermediate school districts] and national institutions. This standardized environment ensures efficient collaboration and allows data, including state reporting, to flow seamlessly from districts to organizations across the state. A governance structure with diverse stakeholder representation facilitates early identification of new data needs and ensures alignment with MiDataHub’s capabilities.
pendil: Region 10 benefits include the ability to assist LEAs in validating and correcting data inconsistencies within student information systems. This will enable LEAs to accurately assess House Bill 3 (HB 3) bonus progress and facilitate real-time, hands-on collaboration with LEAs. This includes: [favorable] Impact on actual students during the existing academic year.
What lessons has your organization learned from the data standardization process?
pendil: One important takeaway from our findings is the extensive involvement of multiple individuals in data processing. Providing another perspective on the data and helping guide and understand the insights the data provides to her LEA has proven beneficial. We strive to incorporate and ensure compliance with all support systems, while establishing effective communication to provide a unified and concise perspective.
Evans: The most important lesson learned while adopting the Ed-Fi Data Standard is that collaboration and standardization are transformative forces. By bringing together various stakeholders and standardizing data practices, Michigan was able to overcome the challenges of fragmented student data.
This standardized approach not only streamlined the administrative process, but also greatly benefited teachers and students. Teachers now have comprehensive, real-time visibility into student performance, enabling more agile and personalized instruction. Less time spent writing reports means educators can focus more on teaching and adapting learning plans to each student’s unique situation. For students, this implementation ensured that their data was tracked seamlessly, contributing to a more continuous and consistent educational experience, especially when changing schools.a 2016 Return on Investment (ROI) Study Michigan’s $2.2 million legislative investment demonstrated annual savings of more than $52 million in district data consolidation.
This lesson highlights that collaborative and standardized solutions not only improve administrative efficiency, but also contribute directly to better teaching and learning experiences.
What is the next step for your organization?
Evans: Looking to the future, Ed-Fi Alliance is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting the evolution of MiDataHub. The standardized framework provided by the Ed-Fi Data Standard allows for the streamlined incorporation of new initiatives and enhances collaboration between districts and organizations across the state.Continuous evaluation of various initiatives including integration michigan virtual data and Maisa Initiatives such as Michigan Early Childhood Connect, designed by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators), emphasize the adaptability of data standards and their value across educational settings. Data standards also drive efficiency, support research efforts, and provide integrated, actionable, and accessible data.
MiDataHub continues to evaluate and implement new initiatives to ensure the platform remains a valuable resource for investigations, compliance reporting, and data quality processes. Planned initiatives such as Michigan’s Early Warning Management System, Michigan’s Coaching Connect, and Michigan’s Early Childhood Rollup demonstrate efforts to expand the platform’s capabilities. Continuous evaluation and integration of diverse efforts will strengthen data collaboration and advance forward-looking results through the purposeful development of statewide data collection and data analysis for educators at all levels in the context of student learning. highlights MiDataHub’s vital role in driving positive educational outcomes.
Nidhi: We’re interested in further expanding what we’re currently building. We are working with the County Information Technology Center (ITC) and are currently looking at setting up an ODS. [operational data stores] Dashboard with other schools in the county. From there, he envisions launching a project at his other ITCs across the state to provide a network of data services using the Ed-Fi Data Standard and give school districts access to data along with reporting resources. Masu.
pendil: As part of our organization’s continued efforts, we are currently working with the Ed-Fi Alliance to advance the development of the Texas Educational Exchange Consortium. This initiative aims to foster a consistent educational environment across much of the state, enable the use of standardized tools, and ultimately improve student outcomes.
The Ed-Fi Data Standard helps organizations reconstruct the future of Region 10 by allowing them to capture data from different years, allowing them to identify trends and current status.
What advice would you give to other ESAs or school districts considering adopting data standards?
Nidhi: The best advice is to start with a solid use case. The fact that we were very specific about what we were trying to achieve was critical to our success. We also recommend finding a partner to work with to ensure the sustainability and future-proofing of your project.
Evans: The advice for fellow ESAs and school districts considering adopting data standards is clear. It’s about embracing collaboration, standardization, and interoperability. The success of his MiDataHub in Michigan, with a return on investment of over 1000%, proves the transformative power of adopting Ed-Fi data standards. The platform’s adaptability, cost efficiency, and support for diverse initiatives make it a strategic choice. Establishing a governance structure that includes representation of various stakeholders ensures that current and new data needs are identified and coordinated early. Net savings, increased efficiency, and enhanced educational technology are proving tangible benefits for users who choose to implement Ed-Fi Data Standard.
pendil: Be courageous, act boldly, embrace the future, and remain determined to use data to improve your organization’s outcomes.
