Variables included in the Dataset:
K-12
- Demographics
- School
- District
- Attendance/Dropout
- Grades/GPA
- Courses
- Test scores
- ACT/SAT
- Disciplinary action
- Teacher info (salaries, etc.)
Higher Education
- Demographics
- Type of college
- Enrollment
- Courses
- Major
- Grades
- Tuition/Scholarships
Workforce
- Demographics
- Salary
- Industry
Link:
http://sleds.mn.gov/data/SLEDS%20Data%20Access%20and%20Management%20Policy%2012162014.pdf
Date Inventory Completed: 5/31/15
Screening
- Is there data available for 2013?
- Can we access the data by August 15th?
Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? NO
Explanation: The initial review of access requests will take 6-8 weeks and the entire approval process is likely to take 4-6 months, depending on the quality, type of request, and number of data elements requested.
Shortened Inventory
Purpose
- What is the purpose of the organization collecting the data?
The Minnesota Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS) is comprised of a number of participating organizations (e.g., Minnesota Department of Education) and has the purpose of bridging existing data with other incoming data a range of education programmatic and delivery questions can be answered to gauge the effectiveness of current programs and design targeted improvement strategies to help students.
- Who else uses the data? (make a note if they sell the data to companies)
Education stakeholders, local businesses, researchers, parents, teachers
Description
- What is the general topic of the data?
- K-12 Student Information
- Higher Education Student Information
- Workforce Information
- Longitudinal Education Information (includes K-12, Higher Ed, and/or Workforce)
- What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?
Depends on the dataset, but includes 2007-2013.
- How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided?
Approximately one year.
Selectivity (conversely, the representativeness)
- What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?
Students attending Minnesota public and private institutions.
- Can K-12 be linked to higher ed or higher ed to workforce?
Yes
Accessibility
- How is the school-level data accessed (note if it needs to be screen scraped)?
Can access reports linking school-level high school graduation to college enrollment and outcomes through an online tool. This information would need to be screen scraped. Can also request access to anonymized SLEDS data in data marts to produce public reports. Suppression rules will be utilized with the use of data marts so that information is not revealed about individuals in a particular group. However, have to go through the same request approval process as getting student-level data.
- How is the student-level data accessed?
Must submit a data access request form. External researchers must be sponsored by a Minnesota state agency or partner data provider and have a written statement of sponsorship. The research for gaining access to the data must align with state priorities. The initial review of access requests will take 6-8 weeks and the entire approval process is likely to take 4-6 months, depending on the quality, type of request, and number of data elements requested.
- Note if IRB is needed or any other restrictions on accessing data.
Data requests need to abide by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and Confidentiality and Disclosure of Unemployment Compensation Data. No IRB required, but must pass the SLEDS Research Committee.
- Any records or fields collected, but not included in data source?
Yes, some information is removed so that individuals cannot be identified, however, it is not clear exactly which information isn’t included.
- Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?
$70/hour for SLEDS staff time for preparing the data. However, these fees may be waived at the state’s discretion.