Need Data? Harnessing Publicly Available Data to Support Research in Hawai‘i

October 7, 2014

Jean IsipNitara DandapaniEthan Allen

Learning Objectives

• Learn about Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Pacific and the Hawaii Partnership for Educational Research Consortium (HPERC)

• Become familiar with the Guidance Materials to Support Hawai‘i-Specific, Publicly-Available Data Sources

Overview of the Regional Educational Laboratories

Overview of REL Pacific

REL Pacific Intro Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKs_1MY9kck

Purpose of the REL

Build capacity to use data and research to improve education

Purpose of the REL

Use data, research, and evidence to inform education practice, policy, and programs

REL Pacific Priority Areas

• Strengthening teacher effectiveness

• Optimizing data systems

• Ensuring college and career readiness

• Engaging families and communities in education

REL Pacific Research Alliances

Teacher Effectiveness & Optimizing Data Systems

FSM Research Alliance

Marshall Islands Research Alliance

Palau Research Alliance

Hawaii Partnership for Educational Research Consortium (HPERC)

HPERC• Support and conduct

research focused on the improvement of educational outcomes in the State of Hawai‘i.

• Foster collaboration amongst members of Hawai‘i’s community of educational researchers

• Build statewide capacity to conduct educational research

HPERC Priority Research Topics

• Teacher training• Technology-supported

curriculum/use of technology in the classroom

• English language learner services and support

• Teacher evaluation• Graduation rate• Model schools/best

practices• NCLB requirement

waivers/redefining school success

• Instructional time• Special education services

Why this project?• HPERC expressed an interest in promoting the use of

publicly available data sources on education in Hawai‘i• Increased familiarity with these sources can support

Hawai‘i-based, Hawai‘i-specific education research

Guidance Materials Overview

Guidance Materials to Support Use of Hawai‘i-Specific, Publicly Available Data Sources

Methodology

• Step 1: Initial list from Hawaii Department of Education

• Step 2: Expanded list generated at 2013 HPERC Symposium

• Step 3: Review and categorization by REL Pacific researchers

• Issues of data quality (i.e., accuracy, reliability, and timeliness) were not explored in this project.

State Data Sources

• Hawaii State Department of Education

• Kamehameha Schools

• University of Hawai‘i

National Data Sources• Department of

Education• Department of

Health and Human Services

• Department of Labor

• National Science Foundation

• United States Census

Summary

The guidance materials include data sources related to 4 of HPERC’s 9 research priority areas:

• English language learner services and support

• Graduation rate • NCLB requirement

waivers and redefining school success

• Special education services

Limitations of the Data Sources

Limitations of some data sources include:• Lack of a data dictionary• Inability to download the data into Microsoft Excel

file(s)• Variability of data within a data source (in terms of

subgroups included and type of data available)• Variation in data across years and level of data.

Activity: Data Scavenger Hunt

Find as many data sources as you can with the following variables:

• NCLB status• Children ages 3 to 4 not enrolled in preschool• Student enrollment• Advanced placement enrollment• Total enrollment• Primary household language

Mahalo!

• For more information, or to download the guidance materials, please visit:

http://www.relpacific.mcrel.org