July 2004 — SETDA
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Idaho: From Dreams to Reality: The Idaho Student Information Management System
- Student Information - eSIS, provided by The Administrative Assistants Ltd., a Toronto-based educational software company.
- Curriculum Management - Orion, provided by PLATO Learning, a Minnesota-based a supplier of educational technology-based instruction and curriculum management support tools.
- Reporting & Analytics - Academic Accelerator, provided by CRI Advantage, a Boise, Idaho-based software development and systems consulting firm.
These applications are being configured to pass data through an integration layer built using the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). This framework and its inclusion in ISIMS pave the way for future expansion of the overall ISIMS system, allowing it to interface with other systems used by schools to manage such things as bus scheduling and special meal programs.
The applications will also feed into an ISIMS data warehouse that will enable appropriate users to perform a variety of sophisticated data-analysis and decision-support functions, all with the intent of improving education for Idaho students. Data will also include Idaho state tests such as the Direct Writing Assessment, Direct Math Assessment and the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) early reading tests. The ISIMS data warehouse will also include the results from the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), a computerized statewide levels test that provides immediate digital feedback of data that will enable greater individualized instruction and intervention based on state standards.
The system will be accessed using standard Web browsers via the Internet and/or a virtual private network (VPN) through a portal built specifically for ISIMS. This will allow users to reach all the applications through a single sign on, giving the user interface a seamless feel. It will also validate users through password and other security measures, and enable access to different areas of the system based on their user type and security authorization.
The ISIMS project involves a large number of users and interested parties, including:
- Approximately 250,000 students in the state of Idaho
- Approximately 340,000 parents and guardians
- Approximately 25,000 teachers and administration staff
- More than 700 school buildings
- More than 110 district offices
Some of the functionality that will be available to various stakeholders includes:
