Summary: The purpose of this KB article is to inform NUSD staff how the information that they enter into the Student Information System (SIS) is used, and to reinforce the idea that good data in = good data out.
Audience: NUSD staff who work in our SIS
The Importance of ‘Good’ Data
The information entered into the student information system (SIS; currently Infinite Campus) is used for more than just enrolling a student in classes or finding guardian contact information. Data that is accurate and consistent allows teachers, schools and the district office to track student progress, receive funding, test students, and more.
Foundational Impact
- Student Achievement – Individual achievement as well as aggregated achievement data are added to and pulled out of the SIS to monitor student progression. This includes everything from class assignments to course grades to test scores. This information follows a student throughout their years in NUSD primarily through the SIS.
- LCAP – Student data is tracked to evaluate progress on the LCAP, including attendance and grades. (NUSD LCFF.LCAP)
- Attendance/ADA – Student attendance is calculated from daily attendance records – this is the primary source of funding for CA public schools.
- CALPADS (California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System) – Student data from the SIS is uploaded to CALPADS which is used to determine funding (LCFF) and create and post state, county, district and school data to Dataquest and other reporting bodies.
- CBEDS (California Basic Educational Data System) – Similar to CALPADS, information is extracted from the SIS to report on our schools that is then turned around and reported publicly.
- SARCs, SPSAs, WASC reports – The data provided in these required reports starts at the SIS level and trickles up through the various systems (i.e., CALPADS to Dataquest).
- Meals Program – Student information is linked with our meals software and CALPADS to ensure students can apply for or automatically qualify for free/reduced meals. This information ties back to LCFF.
- Mailings and other contact methods– Various users from teachers to the district office use guardian and address information to send out mailings. When this is incorrect or not formatted properly, the mail is often times returned and parents are not kept up to date. In addition, automated phone call and email systems rely on accurate information that is formatted correctly to ensure the email/call can be sent and received.
- Testing – Most testing services now pull student information directly from CALPADS; if the information is incorrect in our SIS, it is incorrect in CALPADS and may affect testing. In addition, other testing services require that we pull student information separately in order for our students to test.