
Data Use
The resources you'll find here are designed to support the process of examining data to inform decisions and actions, with the intention that, in combination with prior knowledge and experience, users and stakeholders achieve greater insight into best practices, program effectiveness, and policy determinations.
Resources
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Ed-Fi Infrastructure
The Ed-Fi Tool suite was developed by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation to assist in improving student achievement in the K-12 education sector.
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CEDS Connect Tool
Connect allows stakeholders across the P20W spectrum to address, define, and calculate metrics and indicators such as graduation rates, program enrollment, and academic outcomes. It allows you to define and analyze data used for reporting to the Federal government, and is an excellent tool for deconstructing policy or research questions. Connect gives you the ability to search through what others have done already, and includes reports designed to provide you with options for linking CEDS elements across Connections.
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Research Request Process Toolkit
As researchers learn more about the information available in SLDSs and request data for their work, SLDS agencies need to establish appropriate processes for making data available for education research. This toolkit covers how to develop a process for managing research requests, considerations, and lessons learned from states that have implemented research request processes, and related resources from the SLDS program and its partners.
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Open Education Analytics
Open Education Analytics (OEA) is an open source community coordinated by Microsoft Education. OEA collaborates with education systems across the world to develop modern data intelligence capabilities. Get started with the modern data estate using the OEA reference architecture, open source modules, training, and use cases.
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Data Visualization Toolkit
This toolkit, developed specifically for Part C and Part B staff, is intended to assist state stakeholders in effectively creating and presenting data visuals. When presented effectively, data become more than a set of numbers; they are transformed into compelling evidence, a call to action, an answer, or a focused question. For each data visualization topic, a comprehensive set of resources and information is provided including design principles, data considerations, accessibility tips, general how-to’s, examples, and sample tools.
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Involving Stakeholders in the Development of a Research Agenda
To develop a research agenda that identifies critical questions, it is important to engage stakeholders. Learn how the Mississippi Department of Education, with support from the Mississippi State University National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, has engaged stakeholders to capture the program and policy issues most critical in Mississippi.
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Data Visualization Toolkit
Not all data visualizations are created equally, and common pitfalls should be identified and avoided. This toolkit draws from SLDS programs, as well as other education and general data use resources, to provide helpful tips for building successful data visualizations, helping a wide range of audiences identify and focus on the most essential information and findings, allowing them to identify patterns, build connections, draw conclusions, and develop actions from data.
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Data Storytelling Toolkit
This toolkit was developed for data stewards and data champions at State Education and P-20W+ Agencies to help drive the adoption of the expertise, tools, and practices needed to support effective online data storytelling. It is intended to be a guide to help kickstart efforts by showing the value of and guiding early steps.

