DataDirector

As we move later into the school year and change enrollment “terms” (from S1 to S2 for example), you may have noticed that DataDirector reports are including students who are no longer enrolled at your site. DataDirector has a default configuration to include all students enrolled since the beginning of the school year. We are working with DataDirector to make a change so that the default is to include students enrolled during the current term. In the interim, you can set the Term so that reports include only students currently enrolled. In the Exams picture above (click on it to enlarge it), click on the current term for your school and then click Update.

If you are using custom reports, you will want to add a filter for the current term (found in the Students data set) by using the Refine Data Set option described in the Creating Custom Reports job aid (available at: http://www.sandi.net/datadirector/readandlearn/jobaids/index.asp).

Questions about setting Terms in DataDirector may be addressed to Tressa Renee at trenee@sandi.net or to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or 619-725-7190.

Two new assessments (identified as College Readiness when using a Scope filter...see graphic on right - click to enlarge) have been added to DataDirector. The SAT I results for 2007-08 include the composite score for the entire test as well as the individual scores for the verbal, writing, and mathematics subtests. The AP results for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are each included in a Test Series where students will have more than one row of results if they took more than one AP exam. To view results for all AP exams, simply click on the name of the assessment: 2007-08 AP Exams Combined, for example. Optionally, you may click on the plus sign (+) in front of the test series name to open up a list of all the individual AP exams and then click on the name of the one for which results are desired. Please note that it is not advisable to include the AP results in the test series as a column in custom reports because there is no way to indicate which AP exam results to include for students who took more than one exam. For custom reports, you will want to select individual AP exams under the Assessments type. Questions about accessing the SAT and AP data in DataDirector may be addressed to Tressa Renee at trenee@sandi.net or to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or 619-725-7190.

A new FITNESSGRAM summary assessment is now available in DataDirector. This assessment with 2008 FITNESSGRAM results for Grades 5, 7, and 9 provides an overall pass/fail, the number of test areas passed (out of 6), and a pass/fail for each of the 6 fitness tests. To view the assessment results, click on the Assessments tab in DataDirector, select the 2007-2008 academic year and Health and Physical Education under Subject Area to quickly find the assessment.

Questions about accessing the FITNESSGRAM assessment may be addressed to
Tressa Renee at trenee@sandi.net or to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or 619-725-7190.

Benchmark Exam 2 performance levels are now available in DataDirector. Additionally, Benchmark Exam 2 results have been included in a “test series” to enable multi-grade reporting in custom reports. For information on how the Benchmark Proficiency Levels are determined, click here: Benchmark Proficiency Level FAQ sheet.

Questions about the benchmark exam data in DataDirector may be addressed to Tressa Renee at trenee@sandi.net or 619.725.7201 or to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or 619.725.7190.

A new document that lists the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test (GMRT) scaled scores and corresponding grade equivalents for Grades 3-10 is now posted to the 2008-2009 Gates-MacGinitie Reading (GMRT) Totals assessment in DataDirector. The tables include scaled scores and grade equivalents for vocabulary, comprehension, and the total test. To access the document in DataDirector, select the Assessments tab, find and click on the 2008-2009 Gates-MacGinitie Reading (GMRT) Totals assessment, and then click on the PDF document titled GMRT ESS-GE Table at the top of the assessment in the Assessment Materials Download section.

Questions about accessing or downloading the document may be addressed to Tressa Renee at
trenee@sandi.net or via telephone at 619-725-7201. Questions about interpreting the tables may be addressed to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or via telephone at 619-725-7190.

A new feature has been introduced in DataDirector to simplify the reporting of some test results. The creation of two district Test Series aggregate the results of several similar exams (e.g., Literacy Benchmark exams in Grades 1-8) into a single data group so that multiple columns are not required for reporting. A test series also permits generating results for large groups (e.g., an entire school or group of schools) irrespective of grade levels for different exams. Data from a Test Series can be added when creating a custom report. The required steps are provided in the attached job aid. Experience creating custom reports is assumed. Help with Custom Reports is available in the job aid posted at: http://www.sandi.net/datadirector/readandlearn/jobaids/datadirector/DD_Create_Custom_Rep.pdf. Questions about including Test Series data in custom reports in DataDirector may be addressed to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or 619-725-7190 or to Tressa Renee at trenee@sandi.net or 619-725-7201.

Cumulative Literacy Benchmarks for TRADITIONAL Calendar Schools: January 20, 2009 - January 26, 2009 for schools on Traditional calendars (Grades 6-8). Materials were delivered via truck delivery during the week of January 5, 2009. Instructions for test site coordinators were included with the materials delivered to sites. For more information, please call 619-725-7148.

Cumulative Literacy Benchmarks for YEAR-ROUND Calendar Schools: February 2, 2009 - February 6, 2009 for schools on Year-Round calendars (Grades 6-8). Materials will be delivered via truck delivery during the week of January 19, 2009. Instructions for test site coordinators will be included with the materials delivered to sites. For more information, please call 619-725-7148.

Cumulative Mathematics Benchmarks for TRADITIONAL Calendar Schools: January 20, 2009 - January 26, 2009 for schools on Traditional calendars (Grades 1-8 and students enrolled in Algebra or Geometry at the senior high school level). Materials will be delivered via truck delivery during the week of January 12, 2009. Instructions for test site coordinators will be included with the materials delivered to sites. For more information, please call 619-725-7148.

Cumulative Mathematics Benchmarks for YEAR-ROUND Calendar Schools: February 2, 2009 - February 6, 2009 for schools on Year-Round calendars (Grades 1-8 and students enrolled in Algebra or Geometry at the senior high school level). Materials will be delivered via truck delivery during the week of January 19, 2009. Instructions for test site coordinators will be included with the materials delivered to sites. For more information, please call 619-725-7148.

Cumulative Science Benchmarks for TRADITIONAL Calendar Schools: February 23, 2009 - February 27, 2009 for schools on Traditional Calendars (Grades 3-5). Materials will be delivered via truck delivery during the week of February 2, 2009. Instructions for test site coordinators will be included with the materials delivered to sites. For more information, please call 619-725-7148.

We've created the first in a series of Online Tutorials for DataScanner and DataDirector!

These Online Tutorials are animated mini-movies with audio narration that show users how to perform certain basic and advanced jobs in DataDirector and DataScanner.

This first tutorial, "Troubleshooting DataScanner", steps users through the process of diagnosing problems encountered while scanning answer sheets, and provides users with methods for resolving these issues.

This tutorial also includes information on where to get more help, and allows users to provide feedback about the tutorial.

You can run this tutorial by going to the E-Learning section of the DataDirector website. You can also follow the direct link below:

http://sandi.net/datadirector/elearning/troubleshooting/index.asp

Results for the Science Benchmark 1 Exams are now available in DataDirector. Please note that because performance levels have not yet been established, graphs show all results in one red bar with the label “no levels set.” The cut points for the performance levels are now being determined, given the availability of districtwide data; we will provide notification once the performance levels are included in DataDirector.

Questions regarding the content and instructional use of the benchmark exams results should be directed to staff in the Science Department at 619-725-7315. Questions about using the exam reports in DataDirector may be referred to Ron Rode at rrode@sandi.net or 619-725-7190 or to Tressa Renee at trenee@sandi.net or 619-725-7201.

On Monday, December 29, 2008, the district website, e-mail and District Wide Application (DWA) systems will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, for system maintenance.

During this time, employees will not have access to:

If you'd like to see how your 4th, 5th or 6th grade students did on this year's Benchmark exams compared to last year's CST for English and Math, try using one of the new reports shown here. (Click on screenshot to enlarge it.) To access the reports, log onto DataDirector (www.achievedata.com/sdusd - use your employee ID and district password to log on). Click on the Reports tab and go to "5 Most Recent Shared Reports". Click on the blue title of the report you'd like to view.

We'll keep you posted on news and information concerning:

DataDirector, the software application San Diego Unified has acquired to provide district staff with user-friendly, online access to assessment data and reports, and

DataScanner, the companion workstation and software tool that allows your school to quickly and accurately scan exam answer sheets and immediately view and analyze the data.

Instructional staff at all schools already have access to DataDirector—it’s automatic. Some administrative staff at sites may need to work with their principals and Zangle Power Users to obtain site-wide access, if appropriate.

In the next few weeks we'll be letting all schools know about the phased roll-out for DataScanner, and we'll keep you posted on training sessions and new class offerings as they become available.