1. SPEARS Special Education Ad Hoc Reporting System SPEARS Question & Answer October 23, 2007 (Region 13)

2. Question #1 Q: Could you please provide additional information re: the PEIMS report used to generate the report (fall snapshot? summer entry?) A:  Child Count – Fall Snapshot (110/163)  Instructional Setting – Fall Snapshot (110/163)  Disproportionality – Fall Snapshot (110/163)  Exit – Fall, Summer (203/400/405), AEIS  Disciplinary Action – Summer (425/400/405)  Extended School Year – Summer (408/400/405)

3. Question #2 Q: When will we be able to search for a report by primary secondary and tertiary disability? A: Already have the ability to report on “primary disability.” The requested enhancement is to add reporting on “secondary” and “tertiary” disability. ETA is TBD.

4. Question #3 Q: When will the assessment data be added to SPEARS? A:  TBD  After revised assessments are fully implemented (TAKS-I, TAKS-ALT, etc.)  Must be available in the data warehouse, an intermediate repository required for loading into SPEARS

5. Question #4 Q: Can the data be updated as PEIMS is updated rather than just twice a year? A: That is currently the process. As soon as data is made available through PEIMS, it is loaded into the Agency’s data warehouse, and then immediately into SPEARS.

6. Question #5 Q: Please review what is the most current year data is available on SPEARS. A:  Child Count: 2006-2007  Instructional Setting: 2006-2007  Disproportionality: 2006-2007  Exit: 2004-2005 (2005-2006 by Nov. 1)  Disciplinary Action: 2005-2006  ESY: 2005-2006

7. Question #6 Q: Will SPEARS provide data on those students who will not graduate within the 4 year period? A:  Yes, available in SPEARS whenever a Leaver (203) Record is submitted  No “cohort” data in SPEARS  Leaver (203) Record does not indicate when the student entered the 9 th grade

8. Question #7 Q: Can you pull graduation data by type? If yes, how? A:  Yes  Review Exit training module (April 3, 2007)  Graduation Type/Diploma Type on: Special Ed Graduates By Disability Special Ed Graduates By Ethnicity Exit Ad Hoc

9. Question #8 Q: How current is the data in this database? A: See answer to question #5 above.

10. Question #9 Q: Where is the 2007-2008 data coming from (data source)? A: See answer to question #1 above.

11. Question #10 Q: Can Child Find data be added to SPEARS? A: Need clarification.

12. Question #11 Q: Is it possible to pull data by secondary, teritiary disability conditions? A: See answer to question #2 above.

13. Question #12 Q: What is the best way to pull the data for state performace plan indicators? A: Depends on the indicator. See me afterword to discuss specific indicators.

14. Question #13 Q: Is it possible to pull data for related services provided? A:  Not currently  Previously requested, so is on the enhancement list  Will be evaluated and implemented if possible

15. Question #14 Q: Is it possible to pull data by gender? A:  Currently: Instructional Setting “Gender By Disability” Instructional Setting Ad Hoc  Future: Child Count Disproportionality

16. Question #15 Q: If PBMAS indicator 17 is criticized and a high need especially in those regions with high LEP populations, why has it not been added to the Disporportionality reports? A:  No enhancement request to the “SPEARS Team”  Better communication

17. Question #16 Q: Can reports be generated that utilize the same filters a PBMAS? A: Need clarification.

18. Question #17 Q: Can SPEARS help track a cohort of students for graduation and drop out? A:  No, there is no cohort data available through SPEARS (and no plan to).  Submit explicit data requests to the Agency

19. Question #18 Q: I am still confused which PEIMS submission we are looking at. A: See answer to question #1.

20. Question #19 Q: How far behind is it lagging? A: See answer to question #5.

21. Question #20 Q: Is it all from the same year? A:  No.  See answer to question #5.

22. Question #21 Q: Can SPEARS access EDIT and for a more timely report? A: No, for numerous reasons, data cannot be made available publicly until the PEIMS Edit collection process is completed.

23. Question #22 Q: It appears at times that the data conflicts with other sources of data (ie PBMAS)? A:  There will be discrepancies based on the rules used to compile data.  SPEARS goal was to provide a flexible, user-friendy data analysis tool to non-data experts; PBMAS has totally different purpose.

24. Question #23 Q: How can we get the percent of sped student with disabilities on each campus or a combination of campuses or by district? A:  Need clarification on this percentage.  Often percentage requirements require two reports, but usually can be done in SPEARS.  Example: % of LD students at Austin HS 1. Disproportionality Ad Hoc to get denominator (SE, GE#) 2. Child Count Ad Hoc to get numerator (LD)

25. Conclusion Closing comments/questions Emails  escsped@tea.state.tx.us (subject line: SPEARS) escsped@tea.state.tx.us  spears@tea.state.tx.us spears@tea.state.tx.us