|
|
New Features
Update to research purpose hashing: Recent updates to VLDS now allow unique identifiers assigned to individuals to remain static within a single research purpose and between match events. This means that multiple query packages can now be combined within a single research purpose until a match event occurs. Match events occur approximately 2 to 4 times per year. Packages still cannot be combined across research purposes.
|
|
System Tip of the Quarter
Logic of query: Researchers, agency sponsor, and query approvers should work together to verify queries are based on sound logic before being submitted. Queries requesting data not applicable to the individuals under study (for example, college enrollment records for kindergarten students in 2019) will run in VLDS but return little of value. Check with your agency sponsor before running queries to ensure VLDS remains an efficient source of data for all users.
Features on website
How can VLDS support my research?
VLDS Video Resources: VLDS is excited to offer three new, brief training videos to help users understand how to access, navigate, and extrapolate data from over 5,700 data elements available to support high quality research. These brief introductory videos include a snapshot of what VLDS is, an introductory overview of the VLDS, and details on how to write queries in VLDS. These videos are a precursor to the first webinar in our upcoming 2022 VLDS Research Forum Webinar Series that will provide a deeper understanding of data manipulation techniques for VLDS. These new, brief training videos can also be found on the VLDS website’s Forum page.
|
|
|
Ghosts in the Machine: An Ongoing Series of Equity in Data Analysis by Scott Murrah, Data Analyst, Virginia Community College System
Part 2: Making sure that everyone can visualize data. When discussing matters of equity, it is important not to limit one’s view by solely looking for the big three of race, class, and gender. Those are just as important as the others, as we understand how all our identities relate to material and systemic inequality1 to form an “interlocking system of oppression”2 , each informing how we experience all the rest. However, there are often systemic issues right in front of us that we may be blind to while others are not. How does this relate to data practice? If you make a line graph on Microsoft Excel, the default color pattern contains both blue and yellow: a color-blind pairing. The third default color pairing contains red and green, another color-blind pairing. Proper data visualization includes caring about these details of accessibility even to identities that are not readily apparent to ensure that all individuals have an opportunity to participate.
Featurette on a participating agencies
It is a Light Touch: Recently, staff from AEM Education Services interviewed Dr. Jennifer Piver-Renna (VDOE) and Tod Massa (SCHEV) regarding SLDS sustainable data governance, as Virginia remains an exemplar in the longitudinal data system community. AEM does the SLDS support work for the U.S. Department of Education and we frequently engage with these colleagues on all things SLDS. The emergent theme of the discussion was that most everything we do in VLDS, but particularly around data governance is, in fact and design, a light touch.
We built VLDS on principles of mutual respect for agency autonomy and expertise regarding each agency’s data and business needs. VLDS has never been about trying to develop and enforce commonality in definitions or structures. Instead, we have built a system that recognizes we are working together against a patchwork of laws, regulations, historical practices, and unique business needs. While this can create challenges for researchers and the need to address ambiguities and collisions between definitions, it creates the greatest possible flexibility in understanding how Virginia citizens engage with and benefit from Commonwealth services in the context of how individual agencies provide those services. This is why VLDS remains a national example of a successful state longitudinal data system.
|
|
Information on upcoming events
Save the Dates for the 2022 VLDS Research Forum Webinar Series: Aligning Data across Education, Social Services, and Workforce Sectors to Inform System Outcomes beginning in the fall. Check out our Forum website for dates, times, and featured topics!
The National Center for Education Statistics announced their annual STATS Data Conference for August 8-12, 2022, highlighting discussions on policy issues and use of data systems. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Education will be presenting a virtual session on August 8 at 12:30 p.m. on a new longitudinal data tool for practitioners working with students in foster care.
|
|
|
|
