VT Census Case Studies : Department of Education - National School Lunch Assistance Program

Created by ziemer on 12 Aug 2015

Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:

The mission for this program is to feed every kid in the USA a healthy lunch at school

Link: http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/national-school-lunch-program/

Date Inventory Completed: 7/1/15

Screening

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

If applicable, what types of schools does it cover (e.g., public, private, charter)? All schools

 

Purpose

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

FRAC purpose is to make sure every kid in the USA receives a healthy lunch at school every day

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

It is collected to see the progress made over time and uses it to inform school policies

  • Who else uses the data?

Policy-makers/researchers

  • Who do they sell the data to?

NA


Method

  • What is the data collection method? 

 

Survey, basic data entry

 

  • What is the type of data collected? 

Administrative data

  • If designed, who created the questions?

NA

  • What is the raw source of the collected data (prior to any aggregation)? 


Description

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


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


  • Is data collected and available periodically?


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


Selectivity

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


Accessibility

  • How is the data accessed? 


  • Is it open data?


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


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

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

Explanation:


Full Inventory (REMOVE IF NOT NEEDED)

Description

  • What is the general contents of the data source?

 

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

 

    • Geospatial? If Yes, at what level?

 

Metadata

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

 

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

 

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

 

  • Is there a data dictionary or codebook?

 

Selectivity

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

 

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

 

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

 

  • What was the coverage?

 

Stability/Coherence

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

 

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

 

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

 

Accuracy

  • Any known sources of error?

 

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

 

 

Accessibility

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

 

  • 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?

 

Privacy and security

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

 

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

 

  • What confidentiality policies does the source have? 

 

 

Research

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

 

  • Include any links to research if provided:

 

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

 

 

Gaps/Concerns

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

 

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


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


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