Kansas District Turns to Web-based System for Student Data Analysis

  • By Chris Riedel
  • 03/16/09
##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

Blue Valley School District in suburban Kansas City has announced the implementation of SAS data warehousing, analysis, and reporting solutions as part of an overall strategic plan to improve student performance on standardized tests.

The district is using the SAS system to collect a range of student data--including demographics, grades, state assessment scores, and Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) exam results--that can be analyzed and used for individualized instruction. Since 2004, the district has raised the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state reading standards from 83 percent to 96 percent and math from 81 percent to 95 percent.

"Using our student data system, principals begin the year knowing where our children stand compared to standards," said Bob Moore, Blue Valley's executive director of information technology, in a prepared statement. "They can see district trends, predict state assessment scores and collaborate with teachers to tailor instructional strategies to each child."

The Blue Valley implementation gives district administrators access to information on more than 21,000 students through a Web-based portal. The district is currently piloting a similar portal designed specifically for teacher use.

About the Author

Chris Riedel is a freelance writer based in Illinois. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • AI microchip under cybersecurity attack, surrounded by symbols of threats like a skull, spider, lock, and warning shield

    Report Finds Agentic AI Protocol Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

    A new report from Backslash Security has identified significant security vulnerabilities in the Model Context Protocol (MCP), technology introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to facilitate communication between AI agents and external tools.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • educators seated at a table with a laptop and tablet, against a backdrop of muted geometric shapes

    HMH Forms Educator Council to Inform AI Tool Development

    Adaptive learning company HMH has established an AI Educator Council that brings together teachers, instructional coaches and leaders from school district across the country to help shape its AI solutions.