Data Management and Technology Tools
Representative Projects
New York State Education Department, Office of Vocational and
Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID):
Personnel Development for Special Education and Related Services, Data
Management System and Survey
MI was contracted by VESID to develop, analyze, and report on a survey of university personnel aimed at addressing shortages in special education and related services. Central to this work is a web-based data management system and interface for university staff to report pre-service enrollment, completion, unused capacity, and needs. MI uses SelectSurvey, one of the premier software tools for survey development, to implement this system. In tandem with SelectSurvey, MI uses SQL Server’s Report Builder to allow clients to track longitudinal trends in pre-service programs and to conduct various data mining queries. MI’s report templates are produced in a non-technical, user-friendly menu model, permitting users to compare enrollments in one or more program areas by year, by monolingual or bilingual status, and to compare an institution’s data against that of the state. To support the completion of the survey and ensure accuracy, MI has established a Help Desk and implemented a rigorous data verification follow-up plan.
New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC):
GEAR UP Impact Evaluation, Data Management System
MI is working with HESC to conduct an impact evaluation of the statewide GEAR UP initiative. The intent of GEAR UP—Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs—is to increase the number of at-risk students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. To facilitate data management, MI developed an online database that allowed local project staff to enter and monitor individual student participation, demographic and school-level data. The database also permitted HESC and local project staff to run queries on key implementation and impact variables and to compare local performance against a statewide index. In addition to local data collection, MI coordinates the collection and analyses of site data for federal Annual Performance Reports (APR) and biennial reports.
United Federation of Teachers, New York City Teacher Center:
Regional School Support Center (RSSC) Reading First Data Coordinator
The New York State Education Department’s Reading First Grant required a full- time Data/Assessment Coordinator to be employed by each RSSC. To ensure appropriate data and assessment policies and principles, the New York City RSSC, which is sponsored by the Teacher Center, selected MI to serve in this capacity. As the coordinator, MI worked with a team of data assessment specialists from the RSSC to assure that Reading First staff was well prepared to meet the data- related needs of participating schools. A sample of key tasks performed include: providing support and targeted technical assistance to Reading First data/assessment staff on the design, implementation, management, and modification of the student data system; supporting teacher use of screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, and outcome assessments; and coordinating efforts with districts to evaluate Reading First program effectiveness.
United Federation of Teachers (UFT), New York City Teacher Center:
Regional School Support Center (RSSC) Quarterly Reporting System
Under a contract with the New York City Teacher Center, MI assists RSSC School Support Teams (SSTs) in completing Quarterly Status Reports, a requirement of the New York State Education Department for all seven RSSCs in the state. To expedite reporting, MI developed an online documentation system that enables SSTs to chronicle all technical assistance services provided to targeted schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Targeted schools include Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI), Schools Under Registration Review (SURR), Corrective Action schools, and Comprehensive School Reform schools. MI provides ongoing technical assistance and training on the use of this system, and support for completing the required status reports.
New York State Education Department (NYSED):
HIV/AIDS Regional Training Centers Evaluation
MI staff conducted the evaluation of the statewide HIV/AIDS network, which consisted of six regional Training Centers located throughout the state. The centerpiece of the evaluation was a comprehensive logging system to document all training activities. Reports were submitted directly to the NYSED and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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