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Supporting Data Access for ResearchersNCES Forum-PPI

February 11, 2013

Thomas Howell, Director howellt@michigan.govOffice (517) 241-2374

Center for Educational Performance and Information

Michigan Successes • Various agreements tailored to the requestor’s goals enabling

scope and expectations to be clear:– MOU (for partnerships on state research agenda)– Data Sharing Agreement (for third party contracts) – Access/Security Agreement (for internal evaluations &

audits)– Human Subject Review Application (for one-off research

requests)• Clearly defined review and approval process so studies can

move through the pipeline efficiently.• Research opportunities presented at various venues to

encourage partnerships. • A strong research agenda created to keep everyone moving

toward the same goals.

• Created simple data request forms which provides for easy:

• identification of specific data being requested

• IRB review• Data puller understanding• Application soundness (e.g.,

method, RQs) by the researcher since they know up front the data available

Data Level: Student School District ISD State

File Type:

Tested Proficient Student Details (student level file) Aggregate Accountability File

Year(s):

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Variables:

RIC Student demographics

o gender o racial/ethnic o students with disabilities o economically disadvantaged o limited English proficient

Enrollment information Tested School Information PEPE information FAY Feeder information Scale scores Z-scores Performance levels

Output Format:

Excel file .csv .txt

Other (please specify): _____________________________

Future enhancements• Combine CEPI and MDE research webpage so researchers are

not requesting to the wrong office.• Post white papers and publications to direct researchers to

existing and possible studies.• Provide online place for the researchers to form partnerships

and consortiums to minimize duplicative efforts.• More checkpoints incorporated into the process to ensure

methodology is consistent and data is not misused.

A note on research partnerships• State partnerships with external researchers can

DRAMATICALLY increase research capacity for the SEA• State partnerships ensure better alignment with the SEA

research agenda• However—like all relationships—this takes a lot of work!

Hmmm…challenges?• Data is not “researcher-ready” out of the gate• Creating longitudinal files for research….not super easy!• Special requests slow the overall process and consume

more effort than anticipated • Linking external data sources to the state issued unique

identification codes (UICs) takes close coordination, data cleansing, and common understanding by partners

• Data connections across institutions and throughout the education pipeline can inform us about opportunities to improve student success

• Follow-up action is necessary• Study completion steps• State closure