Data needs to be identified, formatted and digitalized before it can be accessed as required by NCLB legislation.

Then, it is neccesary to sort the data relevant to each state, district and school to process accurate reports and information. This includes everything from student performance to the control over teacher workflow and their qualifications.

School districts face challenges in the following areas:

Strategy

• There is pressure to do "more with less"
• It seems school districts are being evaluated as "businesses"
• There is strong emphasis on performance
• Underperforming schools face accountability: schools and districts may be eliminated

People

• Teacher culture and union issues
• There is limited computer literacy
• Schools and districts have not entirely perceived the value of a Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• There is a new emphasis on standardization and metrics

Process

• Move to more emphasis on automation
• Current processes are historically "paper based"
• Most often there is a lack of a systemic approach
• NCLB requires increased security, scheduling, and accountability

Technology

• Prohibitive costliness
• There is a limited existing infrastructure in a lot of cases
• There is a lack of implementation and support resources
• There is lack of vision and full understanding of NCLB requirements

Furthermore, NCLB requires schools and districts to have available data within a reasonable amount of time to share with parents, teachers, other districts and even the government.

Schools face the task of answering questions like:

• What is the connection between teacher training and student test scores?
• What characteristics are shared by students who drop out?
• What is the relationship between literacy and attendance?
• Which curriculum or instructional strategies work for which students over time?
• What characteristics do high achievers share?

NPV has designed a work methodology to work closely with schools and districts to help them implement this requirements and minimize the negative impact that this change might bring upon each institution.

To learn about NPV's solution for NCLB, please click here ».