Glossary

A graph that shows how data is distributed, including the minimum, maximum, median, and where most values fall. This representation is useful for comparing variation across groups (Khan Academy).

The main systems where official or authoritative data is stored and managed for an organization. For districts, the SIS is often the source system for official attendance data and marking period grades (ScienceDirect).

Also known as a “walled garden,” is an ecosystem where one organization (e.g., the district) controls data and access. The model is likely proprietary and cannot be modified by users. There may be limited interoperability and customizability.

Software features that allow multiple people to work together, communicate, share notes, or coordinate actions in the same system and/or within the same documents (Microsoft)

A spreadsheet feature that automatically changes colors or formatting when data meets certain criteria (for example, highlighting scores below 70%) (Microsoft).

Customizable score codes (also known as assignment codes or special codes) are useful because when teachers are grading, a simple number (like a 0) may not tell the whole story. Customizable score codes tell students, families, and counselors exactly why a grade is empty or zero. By using these codes, the gradebook provides context rather than a penalty.

The process of carrying information from one school year, reporting cycle, or system period into the next (PowerSchool).

Data Standardization is the broader process of ensuring data converted or transferred from various sources is consistent and uniformly formatted (Insights Software). 

There are several components that ensure data is standardized across systems. 

• Data Format Uniformity: Standardizes data formats like dates, currencies, and unique identifiers.
• Data Validation Rules: Applies rules to ensure data accuracy and completeness.
• Data Cleansing: Involves processes to remove errors and inconsistencies.
• Metadata Management: Documents the structure, standards, and origins of data.

Data standards are the rules, guidelines, and definitions used to describe how data should be stored for consistent collection across different systems (Resources.data.gov). 

A condition in a system that automatically causes an action or alert when specific data changes or thresholds are met (Microsoft).

A spreadsheet used to transfer, map, or connect data between systems, often serving as an import/export intermediary (Microsoft).

The ability to click into aggregate/summary data to see more detailed information. User permissions often determine how far different roles can drill down (e.g., an administrator can see school-level data and drilldown to see grade-level, class-level, and student-specific data whereas a classroom teacher may only have access to her classroom data and student data for that classroom) (Splash BI).

Dynamic course mapping helps teachers and administrators connect lesson planning, teaching activities, and assessment methods across the curriculum into one cohesive system.

A system design where actions happen automatically in response to events, such as a student failing a course or missing attendance thresholds (AWS).

A school that regularly sends students to another school, such as an elementary school feeding into a middle school (Cornell).

A tool or report that monitors whether students are meeting graduation requirements and identifies missing credits or courses (NCES).

A spreadsheet function that searches across rows to find matching information and return related data (Microsoft).

Holistic indicators is a term used throughout the playbook when referencing data that considers both predictive and well-being indicators. Often referred to as on-track indicators, these can include attendance, behavior, course grades, and sense of agency, belonging, and connectedness.

Interoperability is the seamless, secure, and controlled exchange of data between systems and applications (EdTech Index).

The amount, frequency, or intensity of support or intervention a student receives. A student who fails a math course may repeat the whole course during an intensive summer session whereas a student struggling with math may need to attend tutoring for support a few times a week; the dosage of an intervention should be informed by research and best practice and should be grounded in the specific context of a student’s need (NCII).

Information showing whether an intervention improved student outcomes or performance (WWC).

Intervention Menu is a library of interventions, aligned to multi-tiered systems of support, or MTSS, frameworks, that student support teams use to deliver consistent, targeted support to students (Panorama Education).

Data collected consistently (i.e., the same values at the same time of year, etc.) about the same students or groups over time to track growth, trends, or outcomes (NLS).

A recorded or programmed sequence of actions that automates repetitive tasks in software like Excel (Microsoft).

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is a proactive framework that integrates data and instruction to maximize student success from a strengths-based perspective. There are four essential components (AIR, Center on Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports): 

1. Screening, conducted three times a year to identify at risk students. 
2. Multi-level prevention system, the organization of supports for students. 
3. Progress monitoring, which uses valid and reliable tools and processes to assess performance, quantify improvement or responsiveness to interventions and instructions, and evaluates the effectiveness of instruction and interventions.  
4. Data-based decision making, the use of data to make informed decisions about instruction, resource, and student identification.

A report that includes multiple data points or variables (for example, attendance, grades, and interventions together). Multi-variable data views often have filters that allow the user to hold one or several variables constant while reviewing the distribution of other variables (e.g., a user might filter to look at how 9^th grade students who are chronically absent are distributed across math classrooms) (University of Alabama).

A blank or missing value in a dataset, meaning no information was entered or made available (Microsoft).

On-track status refers to an early warning system that tracks if students are on pace to graduate, based on credits acquired and attendance.

A spreadsheet tool used to summarize, sort, group, and analyze large amounts of data quickly. Pivot tables can use a unique value from a data set and show the other data relative to that data value (Microsoft).

A centralized online location where users log in to access information, tools, dashboards, or resources. Portals are often designed to provide specific views or functionality to a targeted audience that are not the primary users of a digital tool or system (e.g., family data portals or student data portals) (NYU).

A Microsoft data visualization and dashboard tool used to analyze and share data insights (Microsoft).

Predictive analytics works by using historical data and past patterns to forecast future outcomes. Predictive analytics draws on AI and machine learning techniques to automate the data process and analyze large datasets quickly (IBM). These analytics support school and district teams to make better data-driven decisions for individual students and student groups.

Predictive indicators include the data on students’ attendance, behavioral incidents, and course grades, including elements like missing assignments (The GRAD Partnership). These indicators are also sometimes referred to as “the ABC’s” to represent attendance, behavior, and course grades.

Predefined rules in a system that determine what actions happen under certain conditions (IBM).

Role-based access/views are permissions or capabilities set by a systems administrator that allow for pre-determined access or views based on role (e.g., teacher, counselor, administrator).

A graph that compares two or more variables to show relationships or patterns between groups or measures (Khan Academy).

A feature that allows users to upload their own files or datasets into a system without needing technical support (IBM).

Processes and systems used to ensure each student has one accurate, consistent identity record across platforms and years. Student identifying information must be kept secure (Microsoft).

Student Success Systems are an evidence-based approach that schools and districts use to support students’ wellbeing, academic progress, and college and career readiness. These systems leverage data to identify patterns in student progress and needs, prioritize the supports and interventions that will have the greatest impact, and continually improve practices until success is achieved for every student (Digital Promise).

A data visualization platform used to create dashboards, charts, and interactive reports (Tableau).

Technical Capabilities refers to an organization’s capacity to deploy, develop, and utilize technological resources and integrate them with other complementary resources to supply the differentiated products and services (Omar et al, 2012). 

• The Edtech Quality Collaborative describes the five quality indicators for edtech and AI-enabled tools: 
  1. Safe: Keep student data private and secure, according to federal and state laws.
  2. Evidence-based: Academic research demonstrating statistically significant effects on improving student outcomes. 
  3. Inclusive: Accessibility is essential for people with learning difficulties, including those cognitive, visual, auditory, neurological and physical disabilities.
  4. Usable: A measure of how well a user in a specific context can use a product to achieve a goal effectively and efficiently.
  5. Interoperable: Seamless, secure and controlled exchange of data between systems and applications.

Thresholds are clear, configurable benchmarks that trigger alerts when students show early warning signs. These thresholds should be grounded in research on dropout predictors and flexible enough to adjust for grade level, historical performance, and district priorities (Panorama Education).

In an educational context, this is a standardized form used to collect and share data necessary to support student movement between classes, schools, or districts.

A chart that shows how categories contribute to a total over time, with segments stacked vertically within each bar (Atlassian).

A spreadsheet function that searches vertically in a table to find matching information and return related data (Microsoft).

Well-being indicators consider students’ self-reported sense of agency, belonging and connectedness with their school (The GRAD Partnership).