June 4, 2020
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V3.1 Update, Consolidation, & Webinars
More than likely, you have heard a lot of buzz about a new version of EdFi that we are looking to implement. The Michigan Data Hub (MiDataHub) utilizes the Ed-Fi Standard, which is provided by the Ed-Fi Alliance. MiDatahub is currently running on version 2.4 of the Ed-Fi standard, which has served us well. However, there are a number of improvements in Ed-Fi version 3.1 that districts across the state could take advantage of. These improvements provide greater flexibility with how district data is handled - including some data elements that were not previously exchanged - and eliminates areas that in the past were identified as being problematic.
Challenges
Although v3.1 will bring us the improvements listed above, it also comes with some additional challenges. Since it has so many changes, all of the vendors that work with MiDataHub will also need to make changes to the way they either publish data to MiDataHub or ingest data from the system. The major changes will be on the side of vendors who provide data, which is largely SIS and assessment vendors. For the SIS vendors, they have, for the most part been doing this work in other states already, and have already been working on the updates needed in Michigan throughout the winter and spring of this year. We expect that they will be well prepared, although there will likely be a few items that need to be addressed during the summer.

Data Hub Consolidation
Along with the update to Ed-Fi 3.1, we are consolidating from 5 data hub hosting locations to a single data hub located at Oakland Schools. 
The 5-hub system that makes up the MIDataHub has served Michigan ISDs and schools well. We would therefore like to give a special thank you to the following ISDs for hosting the hubs over the life of this initiative:
  • Copper Country ISD/REMC 1
  • Kalamazoo RESA
  • Kent ISD
  • Oakland Schools
  • Wexford-Missaukee ISD

That being said, we have learned that having 5 hubs to coordinate is costly and introduces much more complexity than necessary into our work. Consolidating MiDataHub to Oakland Schools will allow us to continue to host data at the ISD level and will free up resources so we can continue to take MiDataHub further to meet district needs.  

As the new environment is ready to go live, we are continually working on providing resources to assist districts and working with vendors to update documentation where needed. Our Data Hub Support Specialist Network ( Click here to view the DHSS in your area ) will be trained so that they can help in providing assistance.  We will be hosting a general statewide webinar to detail the overall changes , and anticipate facilitating a specific webinar for each integrated SIS so that we can target the unique needs of districts on those systems. More details on the webinars will be available soon.

As always, our MiDataHub support team will be there to assist you going forward. Email us anytime at support@midatahub.org for assistance.
Progress Towards 100% Adoption
The Michigan Data Hub has worked very hard to achieve 100% adoption and participation of the nearly 900 local school districts and public school academies in the state.  The Michigan Data Hub is a collaborative, statewide effort to address challenges in managing and using school data. The work of this initiative has centered around creating an ecosystem where information is exchanged between the large number of disconnected data systems used by schools in the state based on predefined standards.

Working directly with Intermediate School Districts and local schools, the Michigan Data Hub team has been on-boarding these school districts over the past several years to save the locals and PSAs valuable time and money to integrate and make more efficient use of data in schools. For the most part, utilizing the Student Information System (SIS) has been seamless, and if districts are on any of the five approved SIS products, on-boarding takes very little time. We have run into a few SIS products that are not compatible with the Michigan Data Hub, but we still have a Single Sign On (SSO) “MiLaunchPad” solution that will allow even the districts we have that don’t have a compatible Student Information System to participate in most of the programs offered in the state for collaboration and data use.

Achieving 100% adoption is a goal we are determined to hit as a team. State resources like the new School Improvement tool (MICIP) and MiRead, which supports early literacy efforts in the classroom, are designed to assist schools in gathering data and using information to help students. Integrating data systems for schools saves both time and great sums of money. Intermediate School Districts have teams of people who can assist local schools and PSAs onboard to the Hub.  To use MICIP for improvement planning, and Consolidated Grant applications next school year, districts must be set up in MiLaunchPad. Being connected to MiDataHub, while not required for MICIP, will greatly enhance district access to data in the planning process.

To begin the process of on-boarding to the Michigan Data Hub, please visit the  Michigan Data Hub site , and fill out the  District Participation form . We are able to assist with any questions by emailing  support@midatahub.org   as well, and we look forward to assisting you in join the Michigan Data Hub.
Data-Hub-3 year map



Read more
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Participant Count
New Live Districts
Bellevue Community Schools
Meridian Public Schools

New District Sign Ups
Great Lakes Learning Academy
Vista Meadows Academy

New Single Sign On Sign Ups
Breitung Township Schools
Bridgeport-Spaulding Community Schools
Carollton Public Schools
Chesaning Union Schools
Clinton Community Schools
Coldwater Community Schools
Dickinson-Iron ISD
East Lansing Public Schools
Ithaca Public Schools
Linden Community Schools
Morenci Area Schools
Norway Vulcan Area Schools
Saginaw ISD
Sand Creek Community Schools
Swan Valley School District
Tecumseh Public Schools
Unionville-Sebawaing Area Schools
Washtenaw Intermediate School District
Westwood Community Schools

To register your district, please email support@midatahub.org .