Data, Research, Evaluation and Assessment

The Data, Research, Evaluation and Assessment Department will...

• Support students, teachers, principals, and district leaders by providing reporting and data necessary to make educational decisions for our students.
• Support Pittsburgh families by sharing relevant information and transparency so families can make the best educational choices for their children.
• Support the Pittsburgh community by providing a comprehensive reporting system with educationally relevant information.
• Establishing and managing data governance processes with appropriate rules for accessing data and protecting student privacy.

The Office of Research and Evaluation will provide support by…

• Reviewing and fulfilling all data requests from internal and external stakeholders.
• Reviewing and monitoring research being conducted throughout the PPS community.
• Facilitating a monthly review board for determining whether or not new research requests are in the best interest of the PPS community.
• Accessing data via a centralized data warehouse.
• Publishing data dashboards for internal stakeholders to monitor school and organizational operations.
• Providing data dashboards available to the public as an effort to promote transparency.
• Supporting schools and central office staff around data use and inquiry research.

The Office of Data and Accountability will provide student data support by…

• Overseeing and completing data quality control processes and completing forensic examination of existing data to ensure accuracy and consistency with state and federal requirements.
• Overseeing the correction of any data entry errors and establishing proper protocols for working through anomalies found within the data.
• Providing direct support to Area Network Assistant Superintendents for Student Information System needs.
• Providing support to Schools Data Support Specialists.
• Completing state mandated information requests through the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS).
• Establishing appropriate procedures for obtaining state mandated information requests.

The Office of Assessment will provide assessment and testing support by…

• Working with Curriculum personnel to ensure tools are available to develop high quality, purposeful assessments.
• Implementing improvements to the assessment portfolio that include multiple assessment and item types, authentic assessments and performance tasks.
• Securing technology that fosters more efficient assessment development and administration processes.
• Ensuring timely delivery of assessment results.
• Developing materials and resources to enhance and support assessment literacy for the entire PPS community.
• Implementing regular assessment communication to the entire PPS community.

The Office of Charter Schools will provide charter accountability support by…

• Monitoring performance of all City of Pittsburgh Charter Schools.
• Monitoring Charter Schools for adherence to charter agreements under the Pennsylvania Charter School Law, they must:
  • Improve student learning
  • Increase learning opportunities for all students
  • Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods
  • Create new professional opportunities for teachers
  • Provide parents and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system
  • Be accountable for meeting measurable academic standards