About the Education Research & Data Center

Thank you for visiting the State of Washington Education Research & Data Center web site. Section 3 of E2SSB 5843 established an "education data center" in the Office of Financial Management (OFM). The education data center, which uses the working title of "Education Research and Data Center" (ERDC), in collaboration with the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) committee, conducts analyses of early learning, K-12, and higher education programs and education issues across the P-20 system.

Mission

To conduct research and to coordinate P-20 education data and research activities of participating agencies, including the P-20 Council, so that the best data are available to track and help guide the implementation of P-20 system goals.

Values

  1. Coordinate, facilitate, build upon and enhance the education data collection and analysis already being done by multiple agencies and institutions.
  2. Adhere strictly to both the letter and spirit of privacy laws affecting individual student record data and be sensitive to other privacy concerns.
  3. Achieve consensus wherever possible among participating agencies and institutions in determining the best data and research available to help guide the implementation of P-20 goals.
  4. Conduct all business, data development and research in an open and transparent fashion (to the extent allowed by privacy laws), with the full inclusion of education agencies, organizations, and institutions as well as legislative participants.
  5. Whenever possible, involve all participants in the review and constructive critique of information and analysis presented by the Education Research and Data Center to the public, governor, and legislature.

Communication & Coordination

An Education Research and Data Forum will be established. Membership will consist of representatives from agencies, organizations, and institutions involved in Education Research and Data Center activities. The Forum will be coordinated by the Office of Financial Management and the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program staff.

The main purpose of the Forum will be to review and comment on the work plans, research, and other products of the ERDC, to provide technical review and advice to members engaged in education research, and to address data access and sharing issues.

Formal meetings of the entire group will be held only as needed, with much of the work conducted through telecommunications and by smaller, ad hoc technical groups.

However, at least one Forum meeting will be held annually to review ERDC work plans and progress on projects.

LEAP staff will help coordinate input from legislative staff and members.

Most of the opportunity for collaboration will occur on technical work groups. Technical work groups will be formed for each project conducted or coordinated by the Education Research and Data Center. These groups will consist of staff from the entities participating in and/or providing data to the project as well as other interested parties.

March 2008 Activities Update


Current Biennium Priorities

  • Develop a longitudinal research data system that allows the analysis of student performance and progress while maintaining student confidentiality
  • Integrate education data with other state data (e.g., workforce data)
  • Disaggregate education data by race and ethnic categories to the extent possible

Activities Main ERDC projects

  • A joint OFM/LEAP staff workgroup focusing on collaborative analyses
  • Data Sharing and Linking Workgroup (data “owners” group with technical focus)
  • P-20 Education Indicator Workgroup
  • Higher Education Longitudinal Data Workgroup

Other major activities

  • Participation in OSPI K-12 data feasibility study work group
  • Per student funding study – higher education (SB 5806)

Accomplishments to Date

  • With public higher education institutions and the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), designed a longitudinal student data base (based on PCHEES) for public four-year higher education institutions
  • Developed an ERDC website that contains a preliminary set of critical student achievement and transition indicators as well as other education-related information [www.erdc.wa.gov]
  • With the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), and the four-year public institutions, initiated pilot project to share and link data on student achievement and transitions

Plan for the Remainder of the Biennium

  • Implement public four-year public higher education longitudinal research data base
  • Achieve major progress on integrated P-20 longitudinal research data system
  • Address critical questions about student achievement and transitions
  • Report recommendations to Legislature in 2009 session on what has been accomplished, how much more needs to be done, what legislation or additional resources (if any) may be needed -- including the possible need for additional resources for school districts and education agencies
  • Improve the scope and ensure the integrity of data
  • Maintain focus on a relatively small core of critical questions