Student data collection & longitudinal data systems have been mentioned before.

Curiously, while more data is becoming available to policy makers and researchers, sometimes that data is less available to students themselves: students may be unable to view their grades until the end of a grading period/term/semester/trimester.

For parents seeking more information about data collection and use, here is a roundup of four links:

1) NCES, National Center for Education Statistics

2) CEDS, Common Education Data Standards. Their website describes "P20W" data collection - from preschool through post-secondary to workforce. The website describes that an ever-increasing number of data points are being collected. The website also describes how this data collection is related to Common Core:
Originally Posted by CEDS FAQ webpage
CEDS will support systemic education reform efforts by making it possible for states to collect the data they need to fully understand their progress on successfully adopting the Common Core State Standards or any other standards.
Many have observed that "progress" is defined as equal outcomes, also known as closing the achievement gap or closing the excellence gap, which often means capping the growth of the children at the top.

Originally Posted by CEDS FAQ webpage
The U.S. Department of Education is prohibited from creating a national student unit record data system, but it is does have the authority through the Education Science Reform Act of 2002 to determine voluntary standards and guidelines to assist SEAs in developing statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs).
Note: SEAs = State Education Agencies

3) SIF Association, Schools Interoperability Framework (global, also called A4L - Access For Learning Community). Their website offers a free downloadable 32-page document on data security and privacy, including the degree of privacy accorded certain types of student data. For example, on page 6 of the document dated March 2015, Volume 1, version 1.1, we learn that "Student Categorization Indicators (variable)" has a US Sensitivity Level of "Medium" and includes whether a student is identified as gifted and talented. Page 7 indicates that Facebook, other web accounts, and SS# are among the data elements collected.

4) PESC, also called P20W Education Standards Council, is an international umbrella organization "enabling the portability of education data".

Using this collected data:
- Students are tracked from preschool into the workforce. Data exists throughout their life, and beyond.
- Researchers assess whether any demographic is over-represented or under-represented... and set quotas. Equal opportunity is replaced with equal outcomes.
- Policy is established.
- Teachers are evaluated based on their ability to close achievement gaps and excellence gaps in their classrooms. This often means that teachers must choose between capping the growth of students at the top... or losing their teaching position.
- School evaluations, national ratings, and published rankings are based on the school's ability to narrow achievement gaps and excellence gaps... often capping the growth of students at the top in order to narrow these gaps.
- This old post links to an article which mentions leaks of student data.

Does a set of standardized, interoperable, Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems with portable data, whose development was incentivized by USDoE funding/grants, constitute a "national student unit record data system"?

When we consider the US National Debt, it is realistic that the funding and grants which incentivized this data collection will be paid for by future wage-earners and taxpayers: the children now being digitized into the database. Unfortunately they've been obligated to this data collection and debt, without a voice.

Possibly they'd like to study economics. smile


Note: The WayBack Machine (internet archive) is often useful when a website or webpage is NOT FOUND or has been changed and no longer contains the described content.