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Data Resources List

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - The Nation's Report Card

NAEP is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what students know and can do in subjects like mathematics, reading, and science. It provides state-level data and allows for comparisons across states and over time, including for various student groups like students with disabilities. NAEP results are not reported for individual students or schools, but for groups of students.

Somerville High School SAT Performance Report

This report provides SAT data, including mean scores, at the district and school level for selected student populations at Somerville High School. Useful for understanding college readiness trends.

Somerville Public Schools MCAS Information

This link provides information and potentially summaries or press releases regarding Somerville Public Schools' MCAS performance. It may offer local context and insights into district-specific strategies related to test results.

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Results

The official source for statewide MCAS results and accountability data. You can find detailed scores by school, district, and student group, including performance trends over time. This is crucial for understanding academic proficiency and growth.

Data.gov - Education Section

Data.gov provides access to a wide range of U.S. government data, including a dedicated section for education. You can find datasets related to various aspects of education, which can be downloaded and analyzed for deeper insights.

Link: https://www.data.gov/education/

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. It offers a vast array of national-level data on schools, colleges, and libraries, including statistics on students with disabilities. Useful for comparing local data to national trends.

Link: https://nces.ed.gov/

Somerville Public Schools Strategic Plan Dashboard (Tableau)

This Tableau dashboard visualizes data related to the Somerville Public Schools' Strategic Plan. It can offer insights into the district's goals, progress indicators, and key initiatives. This is a great resource for understanding the district's strategic direction and how data supports its objectives.

Link:https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/samantha.eligene/viz/SomervillePublicSchoolsStrategicPlanDashboard/HomePage

Somerville Public Schools - Power BI Dashboard

This Power BI dashboard provides a dynamic and interactive view of various data points within Somerville Public Schools. It may include data on student demographics, attendance, program participation, and other operational metrics. Interacting with the filters and visualizations can help you drill down into specific data segments. Link:https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjRjOGUyNDAtOGMzMi00NzY2LWFhMzQtMDQwZmJmYjEyZTBjIiwidCI6IjNlODYxZDE2LTQ4YjctNGEwZS05ODA2LThjMDRkODFiN2IyYSJ9

Massachusetts DESE Directory of Datasets and Reports

This comprehensive directory from DESE provides access to a wide range of datasets and reports covering various aspects of education in Massachusetts, including special programs, educators, budget and finance, and assessments. It's an excellent resource for detailed statewide data. Link: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dese-directory-of-datasets-and-reports

Massachusetts DESE School and District Report Cards

The DESE Report Cards offer detailed information on school and district performance, including academic achievement, student growth, graduation rates, and accountability ratings. These reports are essential for tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement, especially for students with disabilities.

Link: https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/

Massachusetts DESE School and District Profiles (Somerville)

This page provides a comprehensive profile for the Somerville Public Schools district from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). You can find data on enrollment, demographics, staffing, finances, and accountability. This is also where you can often find specific special education data points within the district's profile. It's useful for understanding the overall context of the district.

Link: https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=02740000&orgtypecode=5

How Parents Can Use These Data Sources

These resources provide aggregated data about student populations, schools, and districts, rather than individual student records. They are powerful tools for understanding broader trends and advocating for systemic improvements. Here's how you can effectively use these larger data sets:

  1. Understand School and District Performance:

    • Contextualize Your Child's Educational Environment: Look at district-wide data on special education enrollment, graduation rates for students with disabilities, and MCAS performance for various student groups. This helps you understand the broader educational environment and how your child's school compares within the district and state.

    • Identify Gaps and Strengths at the System Level: District and school-level data can highlight areas where the school system might be struggling or excelling for certain student populations (e.g., students with disabilities, English learners, specific racial/ethnic groups). This information can inform your advocacy efforts for systemic improvements or commend successful programs.

    • Utilize DESE Sources for Detailed Breakdowns: The Massachusetts DESE School and District Profilesand Report Cards are particularly useful for drilling down into specific information:

      • District-Level Data: View overall performance, demographics, and financial information for Somerville Public Schools as a whole.

      • Specific School Data: Navigate to individual school profiles and report cards within Somerville to see data relevant to your child's school, including student demographics, attendance, and academic performance.

      • Demographic Group Data: Within these DESE reports, you can often filter or view data broken down by various student demographics, such as students with disabilities, English learners, low-income students, and different racial/ethnic groups. This allows you to understand how different groups are performing and identify potential disparities.

    • Stay Informed about Priorities: Regularly review school and district report cards and strategic plan dashboards to stay updated on educational priorities, progress, and areas of focus for the entire student body and specific groups.

    • Compare with State and National Trends (NAEP): Use NAEP data to see how Massachusetts students, including specific subgroups like students with disabilities, perform in comparison to students in other states and the nation. This provides a broader context for understanding educational progress and challenges. While NAEP doesn't provide individual school or student data, it's valuable for understanding statewide trends and advocating for policy changes.

  2. Foster Collaboration and Informed Advocacy:

    • Come Prepared for Discussions: While these sources don't provide individual student data, understanding the broader context of school and district performance, and how different student groups are faring, can strengthen your ability to ask informed questions and engage in productive discussions with school staff and administrators.

    • Support Systemic Change: By understanding the larger data landscape, you can contribute to discussions about school-wide or district-wide policies and practices that impact all students, including those with with disabilities.

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