 |
 |
 |
    |
||
  |
||
 |
||
 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is the Socrates Data System For States?
CRM's Socrates Data System For States is a fully-developed suite of
tools that addresses the NCLB reporting requirements and performs many
other data analysis functions. The system possesses numerous features that
reflect its versatility in handling the diverse data needed at the state
level for planning, accountability, research/evaluation, improvement,
and public reporting.
The Socrates database software brings all the information about students and their performance into a fully-integrated database that allows data to be disaggregated in hundreds of ways. The Socrates Data Web allows users to access a wide range of data reports displaying data for the district, each school, and major programs. The Data Web is accessible from any computer with Internet access, and an unlimited number of user accounts are provided.
2. How and Why Was Socrates Developed? The Socrates Data System was developed by the Center for Resource Management, Inc. (CRM). CRM is an educational services organization that provides professional and technical services to education agencies at the local, state, regional, and national levels. Since 1982, CRM has helped educators focus on results defining desired outcomes, designing programs to achieve desired results, evaluating progress and outcomes, and building the capacity to access and use data to guide improvement. Achieving this capacity requires the use of a sophisticated relational database tool. CRM has invested more than $1.7M in the development and refinement of the Socrates Data System. The design of the system was based on the priority goal of providing educational decision-makers at all levels with easy access to data in useful formats. We believe that it is the most complete, powerful, flexible and user-friendly system available to educators today. Due to the unique architecture of the Socrates relational database, it can be easily adapted as a state data system.
3. What Types of Data Can be Imported Into Socrates? For states that have a statewide student information system, any data that are linked to individual students by ID number and/or name can be imported into Socrates. For states that do not yet have a student-level database, all data are linked to schools, including student characteristics, teacher characteristics, school characteristics, state assessment results, other test results, and indicators included in the state's AYP formula. Click here to view a chart showing examples of the types of data that can be included in a State Data System.
4. What are the Standard Variables in Socrates? There are no "standard"ť or pre-programmed variables in Socrates; all variables and categories are defined by the district or school. Socrates allows extensive flexibility in setting up variables and categories. For example, NCLB requires that all students be coded in one of five ethnicity categories, but states may need other ethnicity categories. This can easily be accommodated in Socrates.
5. How Flexible is the System in Customizing Data Variables? An unlimited number of user-defined data variables can be included and new variables can be added easily no programming is required. Socrates handles all types of variables flag, single, multi, and numeric.
6. What Data Formats Can Socrates Accept? Socrates imports data from any source via most standard export formats, including ASCII text and comma-delimited. In addition, data in virtually any other format can be converted and imported. As a fully-developed application, import set-up is straightforward and requires no programming.
7. How Much Data Can Socrates Handle? Socrates can handle up to 2 billion records, allowing for extensive longitudinal analyses as well as accommodating large student populations.
8. How Extensively Does Socrates Disaggregate Data? Socrates allows virtually unlimited capability to disaggregate data. Because the database links all data to a key field (either individual student or school), the data can be disaggregated in hundreds of ways to show relationships among multiple performance measures, multiple student characteristics, and multiple educational factors. Data can be "drilled down"ť deeply to enable SEA staff to examine equity issues, program effectiveness, and longitudinal progress for any group of students. Data can be disaggregated up, down, or across at any level from the individual student level, any group, school, district, or multi-district. Reports can be generated based on any combination of student characteristics, educational factors, and performance measures. Any type of score data can be imported, and any range can be set, for example scale score ranges that are more finite than the major performance levels. This capacity is due to the database architecture and the fully-programmed report generator.
9. How Extensive is Socrates Reporting Capability? Socrates reporting capability is unparalleled. A wide range of report templates are fully programmed into the software, and the templates can show relationships across any of the variables in the system. Socrates was designed to generate an extensive array of reports for any group of students at the classroom, grade level, school, district, multi-district, and state levels.
10. What is the Format of Reports? Socrates produces reports called "Profiles"ť that show relationships among multiple student, teacher, school, and performance indicators. Data tables and graphs highlight results of particular interest. Since state assessment data are linked to individual students, Socrates can display longitudinal performance patterns and progress over time for any group. For example, state and local educators may want to examine the annual yearly progress for students taking state assessments at each grade level and also track the performance of particular cohorts (e.g., the "Class of 20XX"ť) over several years. State assessment results can be analyzed down to the item level.
11. How Does Socrates Support Both Accountability and Improvement? The Socrates Data System enables SEA and LEA staff to:
The Socrates Data Web portal is web-based, the database software is not. This protects the confidentiality of individual student data and the integrity of the database. Since any user can access data reports directly through the Socrates Data Web, there is no need to learn a query or filtering process. However, SEA personnel can be trained to perform ad hoc queries in the database.
13. How Is Data Confidentiality Assured through the Socrates Data System? Ensuring the confidentiality of student data has become increasingly important, and allowing any identifiable information to be accessible on the Internet is against the policy of many state education agencies and school districts. The Socrates database is stored on a secure server that is not connected to the Internet. Since the database is not on the Internet, there is no way for an outsider to access or modify it.
14. How Do State Education Agencies Acquire the Socrates Data System? The first step in acquiring the Socrates Data System is a two year contract. In year 1, CRM:
15. What Makes Socrates Unique Compared to Other Systems? The data warehouse systems available for educators were designed for school and district use. Because Socrates contains no pre-programmed variables or "cubes"ť, and because it is designed to accommodate any type of field without the need for programming, Socrates is uniquely suited for use as a state data system. Other unique features include:
|
