Second-Generation Education Research Center (ERC) at UT Austin

Transcription

1 Second-Generation Education Research Center (ERC) at UT Austin Christopher T. King, Director Ray Marshall Center, LBJ School of Public Affairs, UT Austin Pedro Reyes, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UT System Celeste Alexander, Director Education Research Center, UT Austin

2 What is an ERC? TEA Student and Educator Data Personally Identifiable Demographic Programmatic Assessment K-12 Data TWC Data Personally Identifiable UI Wage Data OTHER Data Personally Identifiable NSC SAT/ACT Data Matched Across State Agencies and Other Sources THECB Public & Independent College Information Personally Identifiable Higher Education Reports THECB Performs Matching Assigns Identifiers Removes Direct Identifiers ERC Data Warehouse Governed by Policies and Procedures Provides secure access to data and statistical software Documents containing data elements and layouts

3 First Round th Texas Legislature (3rd Called Session) House Bill 1 - Authorized the creation of and partial funding of three Education Research Centers (ERCs). Current statute states: A center shall conduct research for the benefit of education in this state. This bill led to the creation of three ERCs: UT Austin UT Dallas Texas A&M

4 Second Round At the end of five years, the state issued a new Request for Qualifications to renew the ERCs without state funding in May The RFQ required the capacity for selfsustainability in the absence of state funding. New contracts for continuation finally were sent to two ERCs UT Austin and UTD in May 2013.

5 Second Round The rd Texas Legislature was in session at the same time the ERC contracts were sent out. A legislative bill addressing the ERCs (HB 2103) had already been filed by State Rep. Mike Villarreal. This bill was created to better align ERCs to state priorities, amend state laws to fix implementation issues, and streamline ERC authority and oversight to reduce the complexity. HB 2130 passed both houses easily and was signed into law by the summer of 2013.

6 Second Round Because HB 2103 authorized changes in the ERC law, contract negotiations had to begin anew for the two ERCs. At the same time, new Texas Administrative Code (operating guidelines that follow Texas Education Codes) also had to be written to mirror the changed legislation and administer the new ERC rules and regulations. The entire RFQ application process, legislative session, new law, and contract negotiations created a two-year gap in the ability of ERCs to support current research or bring in new research projects.

7 November 2013 The new UT Austin ERC is up and running. The first meeting of the reconstituted Advisory Board was held on November 6. The UT Austin ERC features access points at two campus locations: the Sanchez Building and the Ray Marshall Center. FERPA training for researchers is required. Data security is paramount.

8 Higher Education and Workforce Data Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Data CBM001 - Student Enrollment Report ( ) CBM002 - Texas Success Initiative ( ) CBM004 - Class Report ( ) CBM008 - Faculty Report ( ) CBM009 - Graduation Report ( ) CBM011 - Facilities Room Inventory Report ( ) CBM014 - Facilities Building Inventory Report ( ) CBM00A - Students in Continuing Education Courses Report ( ) CBM00B - Admissions Report ( ) CBM00C - Continuing Education Class Report ( ) CBM00M - Marketable Skills Achievement Report ( ) CBM00R - Residents/Fellows Report ( ) CBM00S - Student Schedule Report ( ) FADS001 - Financial Aid Database System ( ) TWC Data Employment wage reports ( ) Other Data National Student Clearinghouse information ( )

9 PK-12 Data District and Campus Data Organizational data ( ) Financial data, budgeted and actual ( ) Staff employment data ( ) Student Data Enrollment ( ) Attendance ( ) Course completion ( ) Graduation, leaver, and dropout ( ) Special education data ( ) Disciplinary data ( ) Assessment Data TAAS and TAKS data, all grades, all subjects, all versions, Spanish and English (TAAS , TAKS ) State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STARR) Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) ( ) Accountability Data Federal accountability reports ( ) State accountability reports ( ) Educator Data Certification data ( ) Other Data SAT and ACT student performance data ( )

10 Proposal Requirements Research questions What data elements from ERC database will be needed? What research methods? Researcher s qualifications Benefit to Texas Related policy Dissemination strategy Financial resources

11 Research Project Workflow Researcher prepares and submits proposal to Advisory Board Advisory Board approves research project Researcher reviews security procedures and signs FERPA and Confidentiality Agreement Researcher obtains UT EID Researcher requests files needed to complete approved project. Researcher analyzes data and requests release of results The ERC reviews and approves release of results OR Not approved Researcher adjusts requested results as necessary and resubmits it for review Approved Researcher releases research results Repeat, as necessary Research project ends: Researcher access is rescinded and researcher s workspace files are archived and eventually destroyed

12 ERC Research Project Examples -Postsecondary Access, Persistence, and Completion of Houston-Area Youth (C. Alexander, P. Reyes, & M. Giani) -Factors Associated with Education and Work after High School for the Classes of 2008 and 2009 (G. Cumpton, D. Schexnayder, C. King & C. Stolp, February 2012) -Study of Early Education in Texas: The Relationship of Pre-K Attendance to 3rd Grade Test Results (A. Huston, A. Gupta & D. Schexnayder, March 2012) -Texas Workforce Data Quality Initiative (G. Cumpton, T. Smith, C. King, J. Lincove, S. Black, J. Cullinane, et al., ongoing)

13 UT Austin ERC Questions?

14 Contact Information Chris King: Celeste Alexander: Websites: