September 19, 2018
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September Monthly Update (Zoom)
Our September monthly update meeting is scheduled for
Click on the links to register. This month we will be detailing the highly anticipated M-STEP data flow process to receive assessment data directly from the state of Michigan. The first step in the work is completed and should be in use by the time of this meeting. We will also be sharing timeline information for new development work as well as other important status updates.
Northwest Evaluation Association
Our updated list from NWEA shows that 661 of our estimate 900 districts use their assessments. That assessment data can flow to MiDataHub on an automated, weekly basis. We currently have about 100 districts configured to receive NWEA data as an “Inbound Integration” in the cockpit application. If you don’t currently have your NWEA data flowing, please complete the fillable PDF data agreement and email it to support@midatahub.org . We will take care of the rest of the work to send the completed form to NWEA and enable the data flow in the cockpit.
Dashboard Build
Once your district data is loaded to the data hub, one of the important steps to being able to view that data via the dashboard is to complete a dashboard build. It is a very easy, but often overlooked step. To schedule a dashboard build, follow the steps below:
  • Log into the cockpit application at https://launchpad.midatahub.org, choose the cockpit application for your region and navigate to your district landing page.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on “Add Build”. If you don’t have an “Add Build” link, but do have an “Edit Build” link, that means that your build has been scheduled previously.
  • Once you click on the "Add Build" or "Edit Build" button, you have the opportunity to set a schedule for the build. We recommend the following:
  • Run at next available cycle: Leave this unchecked for now. It is a trigger to do a manual build on the next 5 minute cycle. If you ever want to force a build, you can check this box and then click on submit, and it will run at the next 5 minute mark (3:05, 3:10, etc. for instance).
  • Year: Current Year - This allows the “Current School Year” selection from the main screen to determine what year the build runs for. 
  • Schedule Type: Daily - The build will run every day
  • Start Date: Select today's date from the calendar grid
  • Start Time: Typically you want to set this to an evening time so that the dashboards are up to date the next day.
  • Repeat Every: 1 day - this allows the build to happen every day
  • Advance - Leave unchecked.
  • Notification Email - Place email addresses of anyone to notify of the completion status, separated by semi-colons and with no spaces embedded.
  • Error Retention Count - The build can complete, yet still identify errors. Typically, if you have more than 500 errors, they are all repeats, so it is fine to leave the default. Errors can be viewed in the District Reports > Data Hub Performance > Dashboard Build Exception Report. Typically, you will need help from MiDataHub staff to decipher the error information.
  • Click on the submit button when complete. You should return to the district landing page and the Edit Build box will show a summary of the schedule information.
Please let us know if you need assistance, support@midatahub.org

MiDataHub Retreat
MiDataHub is holding it's first strategic planning retreat this week, September 26th and 27th . For those across the state on the Actionable Data Advisory, Data Integration Advisory, and Operations Work groups, please check your email for the steps to register. This strategic planning session will be geared towards identifying ways to improve our capacity to support the integration work we provide for all districts in Michigan.

If you are a part of a group listed above and have not registered, please register here as soon as possible: https://goo.gl/forms/aTyNYiT4hkcEY77l2
Practitioners Corner
“Farmington Public Schools Takes Advantage of Michigan Data Hubs”
Farmington Public Schools is using the Michigan Data Hubs in three big ways and we are excited to see the results. By integrating with the data hubs, we are improving data quality, piloting data exchanges with existing vendors for future growth, and gaining access to new tools exclusively available through the hubs.

Through our use of the Data Hubs, we are seeing an improvement in data quality. Instead of finding and addressing data quality during state reporting timelines, we are seeing them earlier – during the enrollment and registration process. This gives us cleaner data.

We volunteered as pilot districts for both Career Cruising and Illuminate DNA, replacing the CSV batch processing with integrations through the Data Hubs. We are investing in this data exchange now to ensure smooth data exchanges in the future.

We are excited to take advantage of the UIC integration and MiLearn, both exclusively available through the data hubs. We no longer upload files for UIC matching. It happens in MISTAR, our Student Information System, through the Data Hubs. On an exact match or a new student to the state, the UIC is created and just “pops in” on the screen in MISTAR. Limited FPS staff have permission to review possible matches, without leaving MISTAR! Not only does this integration reduce my work as the Pupil Accountant and State Reporting MISTAR System Administrator but our building secretaries have the UIC immediately and there’s no waiting or follow up to complete a student registration. The integration with MiLearn gives staff, parents and students in our district instant access to student state testing results, even if the students were not in our district during testing. They log into MISTAR, click on the “State Assessment” link, and see results without needing additional credentials for a different system.

We are looking forward to expanded use of the data hubs.

Donna Reuter
Student Data Supervisor
Farmington Public Schools
MiDataHub Team Spotlight For
September 19, 2018
Stan Masters has been an active member of the Actionable Data Advisory (ADA) for the past year. His thoughtful voice, attention to detail, and ability to connect work across regional and statewide initiatives has been critical in keeping MiDataHub work centered on what’s important to teachers and students.

Stan Masters is the Coordinator for Instructional Data Services at the Lenawee ISD. Stan has provided leadership at the local, regional, and state level for the past 30 years, including data warehousing, classroom assessment, MISchoolData, and social studies. Stan’s focus is on the use of multiple measures that create a photo album of student achievement.

Thank you Stan for your commitment to bettering Michigan schools!
Support
Support Needs - When seeking assistance, we ask that you email us at support@midatahub.org . Please include the following in your email:
  • Name and email (usually not an issue for emailed tickets)
  • District name
  • Issue Details
  • Phone Number
*The district name and phone number are especially helpful in allowing us to expedite resolution of tickets. We can usually guess the district from an email address, but sometimes it takes a bit of work.