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Toward a K–20 Student Unit Record Data System for California

Toward a K–20 Student Unit Record Data System for California

Georges Vernez
Cathy Krop
Mirka Vuollo
Janet S. Hansen
Copyright Date: 2008
Edition: 1
Published by: RAND Corporation
Pages: 126
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mg695wfhf
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  • Book Info
    Toward a K–20 Student Unit Record Data System for California
    Book Description:

    To improve the progression of students through the educational system and to improve education quality, California needs a robust data system that can track an individual student's progress from kindergarten to college and beyond. The authors review California's multiple existing student data systems and identify steps that could be taken toward building and maintaining an integrated student data system for the state.

    eISBN: 978-0-8330-4436-5
    Subjects: Education

Table of Contents

  1. Front Matter
    (pp. i-ii)
  2. Preface
    (pp. iii-iv)
  3. Table of Contents
    (pp. v-viii)
  4. Figure and Tables
    (pp. ix-x)
  5. Summary
    (pp. xi-xviii)
  6. Acknowledgments
    (pp. xix-xx)
  7. Abbreviations
    (pp. xxi-xxiv)
  8. CHAPTER ONE Introduction
    (pp. 1-16)

    There is growing interest in tracking student progression from elementary to secondary school, into postsecondary institutions, and eventually into the labor force. This interest stems from various concerns about the state of the U.S. education system. The United States has fallen behind other nations in the proportion of young adults with a postsecondary credential. The country also continues to see significant gaps in attainment between white students and students of color. At the same time, questions about student dropout and retention rates and effective ways to improve student progression and achievement remain unanswered.

    Many states are working to align K–...

  9. CHAPTER TWO California’s Current Student Data Systems
    (pp. 17-40)

    Although California trails other states in developing a K–20 SUR data system, it is not at square one. At present, the state has the embryonic architecture of a longitudinal system. Systems currently used by the state’s individual education segments already collect many of the data needed to eventually develop and maintain a fully integrated file that would track individual students from kindergarten through graduation from college. In addition, California has several data initiatives under way that promise to fill some of the gaps in its existing ability to gather education data.

    Of seven student data systems currently in use...

  10. CHAPTER THREE Major Challenges and System Design Issues
    (pp. 41-62)

    In addition to the embryonic architecture that would enable it to develop and maintain a K–20 longitudinal SUR data system, California has the necessary technical expertise. Our respondents indicated that there are no major technological barriers to developing such a system. However, our respondents suggested that a number of important issues would still need to be addressed first. These range from matters of educational governance and funding to issues of legal authority, individual privacy, administrative authority, access, and content; resolution of these issues is needed to overcome the reluctance of the California quasi-independent educational segments to let others use...

  11. CHAPTER FOUR What Next for California?
    (pp. 63-72)

    We conclude that developing an integrated K–20 SUR data system in California is feasible. But many interrelated issues—from major challenges concerning cooperation among stakeholders, governance, and system “ownership” to questions of accessibility, data content, and standardization—need to be resolved, with divided stakeholders reaching a consensus. This will be a daunting task that may take several years.

    In our view, several steps will need to be taken before these issues can be resolved, the initiative can move forward, and maximum use can be made of the newly available data:

    Complete the design and implementation of CALPADS.

    Identify a...

  12. APPENDIX A Selected Characteristics of States Selected for Interviews
    (pp. 73-76)
  13. APPENDIX B Illustrative Interview Protocol
    (pp. 77-86)
  14. APPENDIX C California Student Record Data Systems
    (pp. 87-100)
  15. References
    (pp. 101-102)