WestEd experts will present at the 2023 National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) STATS-DC Data Conference. The event will occur in Bethesda, Maryland, from August 9-11.
The theme of the conference is Managing the Data Highway. The conference offers:
- Discussions of technical and policy issues related to the collection, maintenance, and use of education data for education researchers, policymakers, and data system managers.
- Innovations in the design and implementation of education data collections and information systems from all levels of government;
- Informative sessions on the Common Core of Data (CCD), Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS), and changes in how the Department of Education collects and uses data;
- Tutorials on data collection, data linking beyond K-12, data management, data privacy, data quality, data standards, data use (analytical and instructional), and fiscal data; and
- Updates on federal and state activities affecting data collection and reporting, focusing on best practices in collecting, reporting, and using education statistics.
See WestEd’s presentation schedule below.
Presentations
Thursday, August 10
Session: Going Beyond WIOA: A Journey to a More Meaningful Set of Workforce Outcome Data
Time: 10:15 – 11:15 AM EDT
Presenters: Baron Rodriguez, Director of Information Technology and Privacy, WestEd; Mary Ann Bates, California Cradle to Career System; Matthew Hastings, Nebraska NSWERS Data System
Many state data integration efforts desire more meaningful labor/workforce outcomes via the education continuum. There are many opportunities for strong data linkages to rich data repositories such as New Hires Directory, federal employee, military, tax/wage/IRS data, and many others. The new DISC technical assistance center (Data Integration Support Center) has been working with several state data integration efforts and is hearing consistent messages about the quality of data, restrictions of SSN linkages, and gaps in linkages due to various factors.
State and DISC presenters will present resources and approaches to demystify the workforce landscape to remove barriers to more meaningful data. We also seek to collectively understand participants’ barriers and challenges related to regulatory clarifications/changes, use case/joint guidance. Join this discussion with two knowledgeable peer states to help us move the workforce conversation forward.
Friday, August 11
Session: Building a More Diverse Educator Workforce: Data Collection Strategies for Districts
Time: 10:15 – 11:15 AM EDT
Presenters: Saroja Warner, Director for Culturally Responsive and Equitable Systems, WestEd; Tanisha Davis, New Jersey Department of Education; Jackie Peng, REL Mid-Atlantic/WestEd; Eli Trenado, New Jersey Department of Education
In this session, presenters will share insights gleaned from coaching districts in the state to engage in data-informed continuous improvement aimed at recruiting and hiring more teachers of color. Participants will learn about the challenges experienced by districts in New Jersey related to data collection and analysis activities and opportunities SEA leaders can leverage to assist LEA leaders in managing and addressing data issues as they work to increase educator diversity.
Session: Resources to Support P20W Data System Development
Time: 10:15 – 11:15 AM EDT
Presenters: Sean Cottrell, DISC @WestEd; Ryan Estrellado, CA C2C; Kathy Booth, Project Director, Educational Data and Policy, WestEd
Many states seek to expand access to data, engage a broader range of users, streamline legal agreements, and strengthen security for their P20W data systems, generating new strategies for solving common implementation problems. This presentation will share some of these approaches based on on-the-ground work conducted by WestEd in a dozen states. Using California’s cutting-edge implementation as one example, we will share how other states are solving similar challenges. You will leave with links to free resources supporting work in your own state.