Read: Student Information Systems

DemystifiedBy Todd McIntire

Highlight one “Ah-Ha” and share with your neighbors.

A CTAP Region IV Workshop

5. How robust is the implementation and support system?The support needs for a new SIS are intense. Implementation normally requires more than a full year of focused effort on the part of the district. After the initial installation and conversion process, there are periodic events in the school year-grading periods, semester schedule changes, and end-of-year processes-that can present challenges for the SIS. Inevitable changes in data collection and reporting provisions over time will require support well beyond the first year of implementation.

Implementation normally requires more than a full year of focused effort on the part of the district.

What does the SIS need to do? Who will need access to the SIS? What do they need from the SIS? Where is the data now? How clean is the data?

Multistep process:Initial ScreeningVendor FairVendor Websites

Secondary Screening:In-depth Vendor presentations

Tertiary ScreeningContact Districts using the system

Cold calls to individual schools using the system

Realistic Timeline Time to do in-depth needs

assessment Time to research products that

meet needs Phased implementation plan Successful implementation will

take much longer than you anticipate

Stakeholder Involvement Don’t assume you know

stakeholders’ needs – Ask! Plan for input from all

stakeholders from the start Avoid active opposition by

engaging multiple viewpoints

Leadership Actively work to create buy-in at all

levels from the start Make sure top administrators support

the process Make sure top administrators thoroughly

understand the needs assessment results

Clarify the decision-making process at the start

Clarify the goal – reproduce old patterns or create change

Manage the District-Vendor Partnership

Ask to see what YOU want to see, not just what the vendor wants to show

Be sure district needs drive contracts and pricing

Negotiate hard Make sure the contract is absolutely clear

about commitments for Customization Training Data cleansing Data transfer Ownership of data Ongoing support

A CTAP Region IV Workshop Janice Morrison

<janicem@acoe.org>Jim Freese <jfreese@acoe.org>