VT Census Case Studies : Department of Education - EDFacts

Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:

“EDFacts is a U. S. Department of Education (ED) initiative to collect, analyze, report on and promote the use of high-quality, kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12)…EDFacts data include information on adequate yearly progress, state performance assessments, highly qualified teachers, public school choice, supplemental educational services options and graduation rates, among other topics. Disaggregated data are also available by student subgroups.” Until recently, EDFacts was only available to Department and State analysts, however, they are making the data publicly available for the first time starting this year.

Link:  http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/index.html

Date Inventory Completed: 6/17/15

Screening

• Is the data collected opinion-based?
• Is the data collection recurring (must be collected at least annually)?
• Is there data available for 2013? Unclear
• For Education: Is the data collected at least the school level? 
• Can we access the data by August 15^th? Some of the data is available.
• Can the data be linked to other education/workforce datasets (e.g., K-12, higher education, workforce)?

Purpose

• What is the purpose of the organization collecting the data?

The Department of Education “promotes student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.”

• Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?

EDFacts “Collect and report robust, timely and accurate K–12 data for improved education planning, policymaking, management and outcomes. Reduce the data burden for states, districts and schools, and streamline data processes at the federal, state, district and school levels. Encourage data usage by providing data providers and users with analytical and reporting tools to produce preformatted and user-defined data reports. Offer technical resources and assistance to support data providers and data users.”

• Who else uses the data?

Policy-makers, education stake-holders, researchers

• Who do they sell the data to?

N/A

Schools and LEAs who report to the following data collections: Common Core of Data, Consolidated State Performance Report, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act data, Civil Rights Data Collection, and Electronic Application System for Indian Education, all submitted by school districts or state education agencies.

Description

• What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?

K-12 Education

• What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?

Data that is combined to make EDFacts was collected previously, but EDFacts was created in 2008. Some of the datasets are available from 2003 to 2012.

• Is data collected and available periodically?

Yes

• How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided? 

Unclear, but the most recent data publicly available is over two years old.

Selectivity

• What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?

Students who attended public and charter schools in the United States.

Accessibility

• How is the data accessed? 

Csv files are available to download at the LEA and the School levels for certain datasets (e.g., assessment proficiency, graduation rates - http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/data-files/index.html)

• Is it open data?

Yes, starting this year the following data will be available:

• • Annual list of schools in need of improvement since 2004-05;
  • Annual list of Districts in need of improvement since 2004-05;
  • Annual list of statewide assessment results in reading since 2003-04;
  • Annual list of statewide assessment results in mathematics since 2003-04; and
  • Annual list of district-level graduation rates reported under ESEA for 2006-g-07 and 2007-08.

• Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?

No

• Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

None

Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? NO

Explanation: Data is available only at the school level and only for certain variables. The data is being made available this year so it's not clear whether we'll be able to access it in time.

Full Inventory 

Description

• What is the general contents of the data source?
  

Assessments, graduation rates, schools and districts in need of improvement.

• Features
  • What is the temporal nature of the data: longitudinal, time-series, or one time point?

Time-series

• • Geospatial? If Yes, at what level?

School

Metadata

• Is there information available to assess the transparency and soundness of the methods to gather the data for our purposes?

Yes

• Is there a description of each variable in the source along with their valid values?

Yes

• Are there unique IDs for unique elements that can be used for linking data?

Unknown

• Is there a data dictionary or codebook?

No

Selectivity

• What unit is represented at the record level of the data source?

School

• Does this universe match the stated intentions for the data collection? If not, what has been included or excluded and why?

Yes in that it represents 100% of the public and charter schools in the U.S., but it is not reported at the individual level.

• What is the sampling technique used (if applicable)? 

N/A - administrative, all public schools must report the data.

• What was the coverage?

100%

Stability/Coherence

• Were there any changes to the universe of data being captured (including geographical areas covered) and if so what were they?

Unknown

• Were there any changes in the data capture method and if so what were they? 

Unknown

• Were there any changes in the sources of data and if so what were they? 

Unknown

Accuracy

• Any known sources of error?

Unknown

• Describe any quality control checks performed by the data’s owner.

The Department of Education has a Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP) which is a formal effort to continuously improve data quality.

Accessibility

• Any records or fields collected, but not included in data source, such as for confidentiality reasons)? 

All data is available at the state level and they are in the process of making more data available at the school level.

• Is there a subset of variables and/or data that is must be obtained through a separate process? If yes, is there a separate legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source? Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?

No

Privacy and security

• Was consent given by participant? If so, how was consent given?

N/A

• Are there legal limitations or restrictions on the use of the data? 

N/A

• What confidentiality policies does the source have? 

N/A

Research

• What research has been done with this dataset? (e.g., impact of policies, predictors of student success)

Unknown - only recently available to researchers outside of the Department of Education.

• Include any links to research if provided:

N/A

• List any other data use notes provided by the supplier.

Gaps/Concerns

• Feasibility - can all jurisdiction levels provide the data (if applicable)?

Yes

• Data ownership - a lack of clarity in legal guidance stemming from a lack of clarity with who owns digital data?

No

• Data collection authority - what data is reasonably private and what constitutes unwarranted intrusion?

N/A

• Describe any other notes you have or any gaps/concerns you see with this dataset: