ERIC Number: EJ797265
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0192-592X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Together at Last
Waters, John K.
T.H.E. Journal, v35 n5 p40-46 May 2008
When K-12 school districts began implementing the first student information systems (SISs) during the 1990s, special education was largely left out of the process. The two systems evolved as separate entities, technologically speaking, and in the handling of individualized education programs (IEPs), paper remained the dominant storage medium long after other student records had made the digital transition. An IEP is a written document developed for an individual public school student who qualifies for special education. These documents are highly customized, team-developed, narrative in nature, annually reviewed, and subject to federal and state scrutiny. On the other hand, much of the student data needed to make special education determination resides in the SIS: grades, attendance records, test scores, discipline information. If a district's IEP structure does not display this information easily, IEP planners have to navigate across two systems, fostering errors and discouraging usage. This article discusses challenges of integrating these two systems and reports some of the efforts made by several school districts to do so.
Descriptors: Student Records, Individualized Education Programs, Elementary Secondary Education, Disabilities, Information Systems, School Districts, Individualized Instruction, Special Education, Special Needs Students, Eligibility, Grades (Scholastic), Attendance Patterns, Scores, Discipline
1105 Media, Inc. Available from: T.H.E. Journal Magazine. P.O. Box 2170, Skokie, IL 60076. Tel: 866-293-3194; Tel: 866-886-3036; Fax: 847-763-9564; e-mail: THEJournal@1105service.com; Web site: http://www.thejournal.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
