1 Free Help: State Support Team Technical Assistance Services 2012 MIS Conference February 15, 2012 Corey Chatis, State Support Team Jan Petro, CO Department of Education Jay Pennington, IA Department of Education Stock photo. Release for web use of all photo on file.

2 What is the State Support Team?  Free help: technical assistance initiative of the SLDS program  We are not Federal staff  Available to all states, regardless of SLDS grant status Who are we? Experienced state data systems experts with expertise in early childhood, K-12, post-secondary, and P-20W sectors. See Meet the State Support Team document for brief bios. What do we do? Provide individual and group assistance to states addressing a host of SLDS-related issues Facilitate communication and collaboration across states working on similar issues; share best practices among states

3 Current Types of Technical Assistance Multi-State Support SLDS P-20W Best Practice Conference Public Domain Clearinghouse Best Practices Briefs Topical Working Groups Topical Webinars Individual State Support Fast Response Webinars and Calls State Support Team Technical Assistance (remote and on-site) SLDS listserv Personnel Exchange Network For more information, see the Data System Support & Resources for States document.

4 SST Services Overview What are the SST Services? More structured approach to technical assistance, focused on the foundational aspects of SLDS with the most common need among states. Clearly defined purpose and deliverables Set of associated resources (templates, presentations, guides) for use with SST assistance, or for states to use on their own Current services  Project Planning and Management  Data Governance  Stakeholder Outreach  CEDS Alignment For more information, see the Core Services of the State Support Team document – handout in back of room.Core Services of the State Support Team

5 SST Services: Project Planning and Management Purpose To help states or agencies beginning the planning process and/or refining an existing plan within a specific sector or across sectors in support of their longitudinal data system initiative(s). Sectors Early Childhood Deliverables  Completed self-assessment.  Project plan including an outlined mission, vision, purpose, timeline and key milestones, and identified next steps (e.g., establish data governance).

6 SST Services: Data Governance Purpose To help states initiate or continue to implement sector specific and/or P-20W data governance structures, roles, and processes in support of their longitudinal data system initiative(s). Sectors Early Childhood K-12 P-20W Deliverables  Data governance policy  Data governance manual  Data governance role descriptions and responsibilities  Data governance implementation or maturation plan (depending on status of data governance at beginning of service engagement)

7 CO’s Experience with Data Governance Service Identified Need SLDS leadership team recognized needs No formal data decision-making process Data collection and ownership in silos Little administrative awareness and support Assistance SST Provided Met with SLDS Executive Steering Committee Met with CDE’s administration Discussed data governance best practices Shared ideas and documents from other states regarding governance Provided specific recommendations to move Colorado forward

8 CO’s Experience with Data Governance Service Results of Assistance Assisted other state agency Steering Committee members to understand data challenges Determined Colorado’s P20+ education essential questions Identified initial make-up of Data Management Committee Named agency-wide data governance coordinator Narrowed focus of critical data elements for building governance program Partnering with Office of Information Technology to align data governance efforts

9 CO’s Experience with Data Governance Service Next Steps for Agency Create and ratify a CDE data governance policy Identify data stewards for all program areas Select other members of the Data Management Committee Assemble Data Management Committee and meet monthly Prioritize essential questions identified by Steering Committee Determine corresponding data elements needed for essential questions Develop a P20+ Data Governance Policy and establish a P20+ Data Steward Workgroup Define dependencies and touch points between the CDE and P20+ Data Governance programs Formulate and communicate P20+ Data Governance Program roles and responsibilities

10 SST Services: Stakeholder Engagement Purpose To strategically engage all stakeholders, from policymakers to end users, in support of a longitudinal data system. Sectors Early Childhood K-12 P-20W Deliverables  Stakeholder engagement plan

11 IA’s Experience with State Support Team Services Identified Need Initial support needs identified as part of the USDE site visit Building an image/descriptor of SLDS Services and support have evolved over time Assistance SST Provided Variety of support Monthly phone calls with support team member Specific project feedback Assistance facilitating stakeholder meetings – workforce and early childhood Review of project deliverables

12 IA’s Experience with Stakeholder Engagement Service Results of Assistance Stakeholder engagement deliverables are top notch Multiple phases have been completed Planning for the future Ongoing services Next Steps for Agency Reflection Action plan, strategic plan Dissemination campaign

13 SST Services: Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) Alignment Purpose To facilitate and enable education data stakeholders in the alignment of their data to the Common Education Data Standard (CEDS). Sectors Early Childhood K-12 P-20W Deliverables  Data System(s) Analysis  CEDS Data Alignment Note: Sessions on CEDS at 4:15 today and Thursday at 11:15 in Nautilus 5, and at 9:45 on Friday in Nautilus 2

Contact Info and Resources: Corey Chatis, To Request SST Assistance: Fill out a TA Request Form on GRADS or 14 State Support Team Update