Oregon's Largest District Overhauls Data Reporting

##AUTHORSPLIT###- -->

Portland Public Schools (PPS) of Portland, OR, has announced it will implement a new data quality improvement process using Certify K-12 data certification software. Manufactured by Wakefield, MA-based Certica Solutions, the software will help PPS more fully and accurately comply with the annual and intermittent data submission requirements of the Oregon Department of Education.

In recent years, to ensure compliance with federal standards such as those issued under the No Child Left Behind Act, Oregon, like many states, has both significantly increased the data reporting requirements of its schools and become more stringent in its guidelines regarding accuracy and content. This increase has led many districts to struggle to upgrade their reporting systems, but software applications such as Certify K-12 have been introduced specifically to address such needs.

Certify provides what it terms data certification "scorecards," a Web-based system of monitoring data on a daily basis for errors, which users can then correct immediately before they appear in reports. In addition, the software allows users to monitor data for compliance issues, such as ensuring all requisite content is included, as well as for patterns exhibited by students (e.g., attendance rates, precipitous declines in certain subjects, etc.) that may require intervention.

"The software eases the pressure on school personnel and allows us to measure the quality of our data at any point in time," said Dona Lehr, program director for data and policy analysis at PPS. She noted that PPS will initially apply Certify and the new certification process to a data submission process directly tied to district funding and expand its use from there.

"We anticipate that Certify will give us increased confidence that the data we use for decision making and submit to the state is as accurate as possible," Lehr said, "helping to ensure that we receive the state funding necessary to educate our students."

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • person typing on a touch screen schedule plan calendar

    2025 Tech Tactics in Education Conference Agenda Announced

    Registration is free for this fully virtual May 7 event, focused on "Thriving in the Age of AI" in K-12 and higher education.

  • laptop screen with a video play icon, surrounded by parts of notebooks, pens, and a water bottle on a student desk

    Studyfetch AI Tool Generates Video Explanations Based on Course Materials

    AI-powered studying and learning platform Studyfetch has introduced Imagine Explainers, a new video creator that utilizes artificial intelligence to generate 10- to 60-minute explainer videos for any topic.