July 2004 — SETDA

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Idaho: From Dreams to Reality: The Idaho Student Information Management System

By Rich Mincer, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Technology Services, Idaho State Department of Education

  • Teachers - Curriculum and lesson plans, class assessment and progress reports, standards-based report cards, tools for communicating with parents on homework, attendance, and progress toward student goals.
  • Parents and Students - Progress reports, homework assignments, attendance records and progress toward graduation requirements.
  • Schools and School Districts - Aggregated student data on state and local tests; state and national comparison data; and school, district and program performance data.
  • Public and Policy-makers. Aggregated student achievement information, state and national comparison data, as well as district and state report cards.

Currently, the project is in the middle of a pilot phase to continue the development and test the various elements of configuration and integration, to refine the process for wide-scale implementation, as well as to determine any system and network performance issues. This work is being performed by a development team composed of professionals with special skills and backgrounds in the areas of application, integration, infrastructure design and engineering, quality assurance and testing solutions, education-specific analysis and engineering, data management solutions, implementation solutions, as well as training and project management.

Professional Development

However, Idaho has not forgotten the people who will be using the system - the teachers. At the beginning of the project, Idaho teachers were directed by the SB'E to pass one of three optional Teacher Technology Competency Exams that are based on International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards (found online at www.sde.state.id.us/bots/testing.asp). Today, passing a minimum technology competency is required for all certified teachers. JKAF has also trained more than 3,000 Idaho teachers through the "Teaching With Technology" program, which emphasizes the proper integration of technology in discovery-based learning practices.

The ISIMS project will be supported by a rigorous professional development plan that is designed to prepare all teachers, administrators and district data professionals in the proper use of the various ISIMS tools. While training people how to use the system is crucial to its success, even more important is professional development. Idaho colleges of education will play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers to use the ISIMS tools in raising student academic performance.

Online Resources

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Rich Mincer, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Technology Services, Idaho State Department of Education, "Idaho: From Dreams to Reality: The Idaho Student Information Management System," T.H.E. Journal, 7/1/2004, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/16843

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