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The Data Warehouse is a strategic tool
that enables staff to look at many types of
data to guide decision-making.
The system allows MCPS to use data from many different
application systems to
analyze the variables involved in our schools’ educational programs.
The system uploads data from multiple application systems,
converts these data into a format that allows for analysis,
and stores the
data for use in both current-year and longitudinal
reports. By providing a single point of access to
historical school system data, the
Data Warehouse allows MCPS staff at all levels, in
different types of jobs, to use its information
system resources to efficiently
generate reports and effectively analyze and plan educational
strategies.
The Data Warehouse is organized according to a decision
model, called Monitor School Performance, which mirrors
users’ analytic
processes for making decisions. This decision model
involves the evaluation of academic performance through
four processes that:
- Assess academic attainment with respect to the System
of Shared Accountability’s standards and targets.
- Examine equity
group performance by evaluating academic performance
by equity groups (race/ethnicity, gender,
Free and Reduced-price Meals System, English
for Speakers of Other Languages, and special
education).
- Compare performance of similar schools by
benchmarking academic performance among schools
with similar characteristics.
- Assess the status on leading indicators by gauging
high school Grade 9 students against leading
indicators identified as early signs of high school success
(for example, Grade 9 math course
enrollment, ever/never suspended, years in MCPS,
Grade 9 daily attendance rate, failure/loss of
credit in Grade 9).
Within
these processes, data is displayed at the elementary,
middle, and high school levels through graphical
profiles. These profiles provide summary level data
in a format that answers
multiple analytic
questions at one time to provide information on school
performance and assist the user in strategic analysis.
Using bar charts, stacked
bar charts, cluster bar charts, pie charts, and tables,
the profiles display data aggregated at the school, cluster, and
county level, with some data at the student level.
Providing the tools to make data decisions at all levels
of our school system is a top technology goal. The
Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) has been
under development since 2001. The IQMS comprises
two major systems – the Data
Warehouse and the Instructional Management System.
The
Data Warehouse is a strategic system. When fully deployed,
it will be the repository for historical
data, student demographic and achievement, staff certification,
financial, materials
management, and transportation. Powerful analytical
tools allow staff to turn data into information and
information into knowledge. Staff can make informed
decisions about instruction and focus resources based on data.
Currently, the Data Warehouse is loaded with student achievement
data.
The Instructional Management System
(IMS) is the tactical tool that administrators and
teachers use to make the
day-to-day decisions. They use IMS data to mold an
effective instructional program.
In addition to powerful analysis tools, the IMS contains
all curriculum resources produced during our curriculum
revision. The IMS provides
anytime, anywhere dynamic access to data and the curriculum.
See the Instructional
Management System (IMS). |
