Case Study: School Data Management 

The Client:
New Jersey Department of Education

The Project:
Implementation of NJ SMART, a state-wide, comprehensive, longitudinal data system with multiple components, including:

• A single sign-on portal;
• Data collection, reporting, and cleansing to ensure high quality data in the data warehouse;
• A statewide unique student identifier system that allows student performance to be tracked over time and across districts;
• Parameterized reports and guided ad hoc analysis tools that provide cohort, longitudinal, and comparative analyses at the district and state level;
• Change management and data use consulting services.

The Opportunity:
The State of New Jersey sought a statewide longitudinal data system for school information that would provide a central storage location for student-level data, improve data quality, help the State meet federal reporting requirements, and streamline processes to create efficiencies and reduce costs. Public Consulting Group (PCG) had developed a relationship with the State through the Medicaid reimbursement claiming work and was well positioned to assist with the requirements for a longitudinal data system.

The PCG Approach:
PCG is using a multi-phased, incremental approach to this implementation to ensure that the communication and training needs which are critical to full adoption of the system are thoroughly addressed.

The phased approach includes:

• Phase I: Loading of state assessment and student demographic data into the datawarehouse
• Phase II: Introduction of statewide student level data submissions
• Phase III: Issuance of unique statewide student identifiers (SIDs)
• Phase IV: Roll-out & training on analytic tools
• Phase V: Consolidation of state and federal reporting with NJ SMART
• Phase VI: District Data Marts

The Result:
The New Jersey Department of Education now has a comprehensive data warehouse that includes eight years of state assessment data from which to analyze school and student performance via parameterized reports and guided ad hoc analysis tools. Students have been assigned unique student identifiers (SIDs) which allow educators to better monitor and understand trends and outcomes in student learning.

The NJ SMART longitudinal data system has also helped the New Jersey Department of Education to dramatically improve its scores in the latest national Data Quality Campaign (DQC) survey. The DQC rates state education department longitudinal data systems (LDS) on 10 essential elements each year via a survey and interview. New Jersey advanced from a rating of 0 in 2005 to a rating of 6 in 2007.