Improving Data Quality
Best practices for entering and maintaining data.
Objectives
 Identify strategies for promoting data
accuracy.
 Describe how verification reports can identify
inaccurate or missing data.
 List resources that improve data quality.
Data Accuracy
Describe the difference in accuracy and validity
between the two sentences.
1. I went to teh school.
2. Eye when too the skewer.
Data Accuracy
Each district should establish best practices for
entering and maintaining quality data.
For all staff
 Understand district business practices and policies for
quality assurance and consistency.
 Communicate the importance of accurate data entry.
 Provide ongoing professional development about data
requirements and district data quality practices.
Data Accuracy
For staff who enter data
 Keep student data accurately updated and current.
 Review and correct CEDARS errors on a weekly basis.
Data Accuracy
For administrators
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Provide district level oversight for building level reporting.
Create and support open communication between
registrars at different buildings that share students.
Publish Student Information System documentation that
details correct data entry procedures.
Provide access to technical support for the Student
Information System
Verification Reports
These are generated in response to data submissions
and are used to verify data accuracy.
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CEDARS exception reports
Student Information System reports (entry/withdrawal,
course and teacher)
Educational Data System (EDS) Reports
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Federal Special Education November Child Count
October Enrollment
Adjusted Cohort Graduation Application (P210) and Annual CTE
Student Enrollment Review (P210) Voc
Bilingual
Homeless
Resources
Materials on the CEDARS web site can help you
improve data quality
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CEDARS data manual and appendices
CEDARS reporting guidance
Student record exchange user guide
State course codes spreadsheet
CIP code chart for CTE courses
Resources
Materials on the CEDARS web site can help you
improve data quality
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CEDARS submission exceptions dictionary
Quick Tip Sheet: Understanding the “As Of Date”
Logical Delete Frequently Asked Questions
CEDARS SSID User Guide
Resources
Materials are also available on the OSPI School
Apportionment & Financial Services web site:
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Professional development materials and reporting
handbook for enrollment
Guidelines for reporting Alternative Learning Experience
(ALE) enrollment
Resources
Additional support:
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Documentation and reference materials from your
Student Information System vendor
Monthly OSPI CEDARS video teleconferences
Student Information Monthly Online Newsletter (SIMON)
Review
 Identify strategies for promoting data
accuracy.
 Describe how verification reports can identify
inaccurate or missing data.
 List resources that improve data quality.
Want more?
Visit http://www.k12.wa.us/CEDARS/dataquality/
Discussion
 What systems does your district have in place
to verify the accuracy of data? What
suggestions do you have to improve these?
 What are the effects of inaccurate data on
your district? (For example, allocations may be
incorrect.)