A Date with Data

From building data literacy to using data more effectively in decision making and beyond, the job of improving local data quality requires many hands. In our newest special episode of A Date with Data Extra, guest host Tammy Williams teams up with Zabrina Cannady of the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE) to chat about all the ways IDC and CASE have come together to help special education leaders at the state and local levels strengthen their data and create better outcomes for students with disabilities.

When it comes to collecting and using discipline data, state staff face a number of important tasks. Foremost, perhaps, is making sure those data accurately reflect the lived experiences of students in the classroom in a way that leads to improved outcomes. So what's our disciplined approach? In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman is joined by Kent McIntosh, co-director of the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and IDC’s own Heather Reynolds to talk about strategies for improving the crucial process of collecting, analyzing, reporting, and using high-quality discipline data.

These data aren’t just numbers; they’re students. This powerful message from IDC’s Interactive Institute inspired the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) to focus on the quality of their local data. With assistance from IDC, the state planned a two-day retreat where LEA leaders could focus on building their capacity to use and truly understand their data. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman talks with SCDE’s Lisa McCliment and Sandra Garner about the process and the outcomes of helping LEAs spend time understanding their data and the students behind those numbers.

Massachusetts is a state of firsts. The first public library in the United States. The first university. Even the first public park. It should come as no surprise then that state education staff in the Bay State are hard at work pioneering new solutions to complex LEA Determinations. On this latest episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Jamie Camacho, State Director of Special Education from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Greg Tobey, IDEA Data Supervisor, and David Lowe from SPED Strategies, to discuss the tools and resources the Massachusetts DOE makes available to support districts with this important process.

Among stakeholder groups, parents occupy a place of special significance. To increase their communication and collaboration with the parents and families of students with disabilities, the Georgia Department of Education is taking steps to build parent survey participation and representativeness. How are they doing so? And what are the results so far? Join host Amy Bitterman and her special guests Dominique Donaldson and Carol Sprague to learn more about how Georgia is using data-driven decision making to strengthen the involvement of this all-important stakeholder group.

What does it look like when LEAs turn conversation into action? In Delaware, it starts with time, trust, and a clear plan. In the second installment of this two-part series, host Amy Bitterman continues her conversation with Dale Matusevich, Robert Sabolcik, and Barbara Mazza from the Delaware Department of Education—this time diving into real examples of the impact of the state's data retreats on local data quality. Join us to hear the end of the conversation and discover how collaboration and consistency can transform IDEA data quality, helping to drive meaningful progress for students with disabilities.

What does it really take to build LEA capacity for high-quality IDEA data use? In Delaware, the answer starts with collaboration, communication, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all students. In the first of this two-part series, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Dale Matusevich, Robert Sabolcik, and Barbara Mazza from the Delaware Department of Education to explore how their team is reframing data conversations with LEAs, hosting data retreats, and leveraging tools like Power BI to support more meaningful data use and lasting system-wide improvement.

What’s the secret to submitting a high-quality, timely, accurate SPP/APR? Nebraska may have cracked the code. In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman talks with Amy Rhone and Jamie Chambers from the Nebraska Department of Education about their comprehensive SPP/APR Indicator Tracking Sheet, a collaborative tool that transformed how Nebraska’s SPP/APR team communicates and organizes their indicator data to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Join us to discover how Nebraska’s not-so-secret tool has helped them unlock greater accuracy, intentionality, and continuous improvement in their SPP/APR submission.

Illinois. The prairie state. As is the case around the country, state education staff here are working hard to refine and improve their annual LEA determinations process. How are they doing that here in the Land of Lincoln? On our latest episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Illinois Special Education Monitoring Lead Kristina Holloway to learn more about how the state developed its own results-driven accountability system, and how, in turn, that system, led Illinois to look beyond compliance toward student progress and data-driven results.

Okay, time for something special. With late summer upon us (and host Amy Bitterman enjoying some well-earned sunshine), it feels like the perfect time for the very first edition of A Date with Data Extra, special episodes of our one-of-a-kind IDC podcast. In our inaugural voyage, we’re taking a look at MOE/CEIS/CCEIS. What do all those letters mean, and what do they mean for you and your state colleagues? Join guest hosts—and IDC TA providers--Audrey Rudick, Kelley Blas, and Kristen DeSalvatore for all the details on this important IDEA data collection. For more information, including dates and times, about IDC’s upcoming Workgroup Series for MOE/CEIS/CCEIS discussed in this special episode, click here.

A hot summer calls for hot topics, and perhaps nothing fits that description better than LEA determinations. With the advent of DMS 2.0 and OSEP’s 2023 General Supervision Q&A, LEA determinations remain a high priority for states and their districts. On this episode of A Date with Data, our own Amy Bitterman sits down with Victoria Glick and Karen Morgan-Donaldson of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to talk about DC’s very own LEA determination system, what it involves, how it’s evolved, and what it’s doing now to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

When it comes to OSEP’s differentiated monitoring and support 2.0 (DMS), there’s no such thing as being too prepared. In the finale of this two-part A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman continues her conversation with the Mississippi Department of Special Education’s Jennifer Boykin and the Bureau of Data and Compliance’s Sharon Coon about this all-important process. What can you expect during your own DMS visit? How can you get ready? And what will all your hard work mean for your state’s IDEA data? Tune in to find out.

Here are some words to live by: It pays to be prepared. As states get ready to take part in OSEP’s differentiated monitoring and support 2.0 (DMS), they might be asking what can we do to prepare for the process? What is DMS 2.0 like? And, crucially, how will our efforts help improve our state’s IDEA data? In part one of this special two-part A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman heads south to the Magnolia State to chat with the Mississippi Department of Special Education’s Jennifer Boykin and the Bureau of Data and Compliance’s Sharon Coon for an up-close look at this all-important process.

High-quality preschool programs set the foundation for students’ long-term success, and the same can be said for high-quality preschool data. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman digs deeper into the importance of preschool data with state data experts Jody Fields from Arkansas and Heather Dunphy from Arizona. With real-world examples and specific tips for how to better communicate preschool data, the two offer insight into the relevance and role of preschool data in their states’ larger data landscape. Join us to learn more about how two states are using data to turn their big dreams of preschool success into a reality.

Encouraging local data literacy is one of the most effective ways to heighten your state’s data quality, as Sheilah Paitsel, Tonya Rutkowski, and Jonathan Shank from the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) recently discovered. Last September, they helped host the state’s first-ever Special Education Data Summit. Listen in as the WVDE team relives the quick four months of planning, during which they conducted a needs assessment, secured a keynote speaker, and even braved several natural disasters to forge a path to their Summit. Join host Amy Bitterman for an episode full of insights, successes, and tips for building data quality, data literacy, and awareness that you won’t want to miss.

If the mission of A Date with Data is to bring unique state stories to our listeners, few cases fit the bill as perfectly as Puerto Rico. The island boasts more than 100 schools in a unitary system, a higher-than-average number of whose students receive special education services. On this episode, host Amy Bitterman crosses the ocean to join Dr. César M. Gracia García and Irving Feliciano Pulliza, both of the Puerto Rico Department of Education, to talk about building a data system that meets a set of unique, and rich, circumstances.

With the new year comes new promise and an urge toward new and better ways of doing things. And what better time to apply these resolutions than the current SPP/APR season? On our latest episode of A Date with Data, Amy Bitterman is joined by special guests Jeff Phenicie, Executive Director of Data Monitoring and General Supervision with the Virginia Department of Education, and IDC’s own Rachel Wilkinson to discuss some of the ins-and-outs of developing and submitting a successful SPP/APR. You’re invited for some words of wisdom, experiences shared, and an insider’s look at this all-important process. Resolve to join us, won’t you?

Seeing is believing. The proof is in the pudding. Actions speak louder than words. In Missouri, these are more than just stock locutions; they’re practically a matter of state pride. The same goes for IDEA data quality, where a picture is worth well more than a thousand words. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Tori Chance, Data Research Analyst with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to learn all about the state’s efforts toward building LEA capacity to collect, report, analyze, and use high-quality data by building data literacy and engaging with Missouri’s stakeholders. Join us, won’t you? Hearing is believing.

Stakeholder engagement is a requirement of the SPP/APR, but generating authentic partnerships to drive meaningful change takes a bit of ingenuity. Luckily, state staff in Arizona have plenty of that. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman chats with returning guest Heather Dunphy, lead education program specialist from the Arizona Department of Education, to learn all about the Copper State’s creative, multi-part approach to building genuine stakeholder relationships around IDEA data. Join us for some real talk.

Wanted: IDEA Data Center seeks new Part B data managers for long-term, meaningful connections. Are you a newcomer to the world of Part B data? Feeling overwhelmed and looking to learn, grow, and problem solve with your peers? If so, do we have the opportunity for you. On this week’s episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman catches up with our own Kelley Blas and Kristen DeSalvatore to get the scoop about IDC’s New Part B Data Manager Connection, where state staff gather to discuss EDFacts Modernization, DMS 2.0, everything SPP/APR, and so much more. Tune in, won’t you? This is one connection you don’t want to miss.

If the IDEA Data Center is about anything, it’s about tapping into the collective wisdom of the hive mind. Take, for example, our Data Quality Peer Groups, which bring together state staff to share, connect, elaborate, and resolve by sharing what they know and what they’ve learned. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman connects with IDC’s own Tony Ruggiero and Christina MacDonald, who elaborate on the 619 Data Quality Peer Group and its mission to build connections and create innovative responses to complex data challenges. Why not listen in? It’s the wise move, after all.

Picture a number between, oh, let’s say 1 and 10. For the previous 5 episodes of our 1-of-a-kind podcast A Date with Data, we’ve zeroed in on IDC’s Data Quality Peer Groups. Now it’s time for part 6, which is about the Indicator 4, 9, and 10 Peer Group. This 7th Heaven of an episode, featuring 3 of IDC’s finest--host Amy Bitterman and 2 of our number enthusiasts, Miki Imura and Rachel Wilkinson—is an in-depth look at what makes this special collaboration so gr8. Definitely an episode you won’t want to miss. Just our 2 cents.

It’s hard not to appreciate organization, when everything easily fits together into neat piles and categories. There’s also something appealing about putting together a puzzle of seemingly disparate parts into something quite neat. In part five of our special series on IDC’s Data Quality Peer Groups, host Amy Bitterman digs into the puzzle of various state data roles with assistance from Susan Hayes and Mary Watson, facilitators of the center’s Cross-Role Data Quality Peer Group. These periodic convenings gather state special education staff with all sorts of roles and responsibilities to discuss topics of shared interest. Join us or our latest A Date with Data. We’re putting together the pieces.

In a relationship, two things come together to form a stronger, more complete whole. You might say the same about our ED Facts Coordinator/Data Manager Data Quality Peer Group, which gathers members of those role groups for collaboration and coordination around all things related to 618 data, as well as to discuss topics that include data governance, processes, and verification; data best practices; and everything and anything concerning ED Facts modernization. In the fourth installment of this special series, host Amy Bitterman gets the whole story from the group’s facilitators, IDC’s own Kristen DeSalvatore and Audrey Rudick.

What’s the old saying? There’s strength in numbers. That’s certainly true of IDC’s State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Data Quality Peer Group, which brings together SSIP coordinators from state departments of education and elsewhere to combine their experiences and insight to share, discuss, and problem solve. In part three of this special series, host Amy Bitterman sits down with IDC’s own Beckie Davis and Jennifer Schaaf to count it all up: the when’s, where’s, and why’s of these productive meetings and how you can add to their numbers.

IDC’s one-of-a-kind peer groups bring state role groups together for virtual discussions and collaborations about critical data quality issues in an informal and informative way. In the second installment of this special series, host Amy Bitterman joins IDC’s own Nancy Johnson and Chris Thacker to learn more about our monthly SPP/APR Data Quality Peer Groups where information-sharing and dialogue are the order of the hour. Stakeholder engagement. Non-response bias. Indicator 18. Everything is on the table. Interested? Let’s group up for part two.

Among the IDEA Data Center’s many superior technical assistance offerings are our one-of-a-kind peer groups, virtual gatherings that bring together state role groups to discuss and collaborate on critical data quality issues in an informal and informative way. In this special series from A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman will offer you an insider’s glimpse into those events, beginning with our Data Manager Data Quality Peer Group, as explained by IDC’s own Kelley Blas and Kristen DeSalvatore. Don't miss out on this important group effort.

There’s a new system in town—EDPass—and for the first time states have used it to submit their 618 data files. So, how did it go? Is the new system peachy keen? And what can states learn from the experiences of their peers? On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman will find out, sitting down with Part B data manager Dominque Donaldson and EDFacts coordinator Adam Churney, both from the Georgia Department of Education, to discuss how they teamed up to make sure their first EDPass encounter was as sweet as can be.

Section 619 of IDEA’s Part B focuses on the important element of early childhood special education services and supports. However, the various nature of preschool programs can make collecting high-quality data a challenge even for those with an iron—or should we say steel—will. In Mississippi, the quest to collect high-quality preschool data means working alongside the state’s LEAs to overcome these shared challenges and to develop a sustainable culture of high-quality data, for example through an updated child outcome summary process designed to capture a fuller, more accurate picture of child progress. In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman heads South for a friendly sit-down with two of Mississippi’s steel magnolias of preschool special education, Early Childhood Special Education 619 Supervisor Candice Taylor and 619 Coordinator Rebecca Palculict, to learn more. We’re talking about new ideas in the Old South, and you’re invited to come along.

New Jersey might call itself the Garden State, but for Director of Special Education Kim Murray and 619 Data Coordinator Jennifer Nicosia, every day is not a mere skip down flowered paths. This garden needs tending, specifically LEAs who need a hand submitting accurate or complete 619 data. In this week’s A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman digs into this state story about New Jersey’s efforts to help LEAs grow connections between data quality and program improvement. Grab your big sun hat and join us in the garden for another vibrant episode.

A key aspect of any state’s SPP/APR is stakeholder engagement, but in a state with as many seats around the table as Texas, bringing people together and keeping them there can require no small measure of special planning. On this episode of A Date with Data, our Ace in the Hole Amy Bitterman is all in with Susan Bineham, Texas Education Agency’s SPP/APR coordinator and manager of the Office of Special Populations and Student Supports (OSPSS). They’re putting their cards on the table to talk about the importance – and logistics – of how the state brings together parents, community members, and others to get the most of their IDEA data.

And we're back! Last time on A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman discussed IDC's annual review of state SPP/APR submissions with TA specialists Rachel Wilkinson and Nancy Johnson. Now for the big finish. Join us for part two of this illuminating conversation full of insights into the patterns, trends, and tips that your own state might find invaluable during its next SPP/APR period.

Every year, IDC reviews and offers feedback on dozens of state SPP/APR submissions. From that vantage, our TA specialists gets a unique view of national patterns and trends. In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with our own TA specialists Rachel Wilkinson and Nancy Johnson to share a glimpse of this perspective, offering invaluable insights, advice, and tips that you might be able to use in your own SPP/APR.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: Three former state data managers walk into a U.S. Department of Education-funded data center. Not ringing a bell? Relax. It’s no joke; it’s this week’s episode of A Date with Data. Join host Amy Bitterman as she sits down with former data managers-turned-IDC’s own Kelley Blas, Kristen DeSalvatore, and Austen Ferrier. They’re discussing how they made the transition from working for states to working with states building their capacity to improve the quality of their IDEA data.

Utah: land of bees! In our last episode, we learned more about how the state is prioritizing general supervision as part of Differentiated Monitoring and Support or DMS 2.0. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman brings it all home with Leah Voorhies, assistant superintendent of student support and state director of special education, and LauraLee Gillespie, special education coordinator of the Utah Program Improvement Planning System (UPIPS). They’re talking about monitoring, support, and compliance with federal and state requirements. Don’t miss the conclusion of this buzzy back-and-forth.

Utah: the Beehive State. With Differentiated Monitoring and Support or DMS 2.0 in full swing, general supervision is a high priority area for every state, and Utah is no exception. In fact, you might say they’ve been as busy as bees. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Leah Voorhies, assistant superintendent of student support and state director of special education, and LauraLee Gillespie, special education coordinator of the Utah Program Improvement Planning System (UPIPS). They’re sharing the story of Utah’s general supervision system and how the state uses it to monitor and support compliance with federal and state requirements. Buzz, buzz, buzz. (That’s bee for “Don’t miss it.”)

In data as in dating, the proper response can make all the difference. Nonresponse, and the bias it may create, remains a challenge for state staff charged with gathering reliable survey data with generalizable results. That’s the call. What’s the response? On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman will find out as she sits down with Heather Dunphy, Lead Education Program Specialist from the Arizona Department of Education, and IDC TA specialist Tamara Nimkoff to learn more about the persistent challenge of identifying and analyzing nonresponse bias and some of the tools available to help address it (Hint: Tamara may have written one!).

The turn of a new year is the perfect moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going next. We might even wish to share with others a few of the things we've learned along the way. On this inaugural 2024 installment of A Date with Data, we’re doing just that as host Amy Bitterman sits down with Amy Patterson, data manager with the Kentucky of Department of Education, and Alisha Fewkes, data manager with the Idaho Department of Education, to contemplate lessons learned and to offer a word or two of guidance to newcomers to the field.

Thoughtful planning and data use go together like a hand in a mitten…or a Mitten State. In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman bundles up and heads north to learn more about Michigan’s data use and action plan process with the state Department of Education’s Jessica Brady, Aaron Darling, and Julie Trevino. They discuss the eight-step procedure Michigan designed to help districts reach their own unique data goals. So, put on your mittens and hop on the toboggan; you don’t want to miss our final episode of 2023.

Don’t want to go out? No problem. Sometimes you just want a date closer to home. In this cozy episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman is doing just that, welcoming our very own Terry Long and Chris Thacker to learn all about IDC’s edit check tools, an online resource that allows users to visualize and review SEA and LEA EDFacts 618 data files. From Child Count and Educational Environment to Discipline and Personnel data, they’ll cover it all. Join them to get close (to the edit check tools).

In a state the size of California, implementing systems for change requires a whole lot of teamwork. In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman heads to the left coast to find out how Jack Brimhall, Interim Associate Director of the state’s Special Education Division, and Kishaun Thorntona, Education Program Consultant, team up with local districts to address issues of significant disproportionality with robust data and a model system for monitoring and tracking progress. Tune in to see how these golden state warriors are getting it done.

One thing we appreciate: A good friend who has our back, keeps us on the right track. In the Indiana Department of Education, that’s Angela Vaughn, Assistant Director of Monitoring and Compliance. In that role, Angela helps oversee her state’s annual LEA determination process, and, in her role, host Amy Bitterman is eager to learn more. Join us for this week’s A Date with Data where Angela describes how she and her office help Indiana LEAs use data elements and apply criteria to the determination categories to satisfy this important, and mandatory, process.

Deep canyons. Soaring mountains. Red rocks. Neighboring Utah and Arizona have plenty of landscape in common, but what about their data landscape? What role does data play in their state initiatives and priorities now and in the future? On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman takes it all in as she concludes her conversation with guests Arizona State Director of Special Education Alissa Trollinger and Utah State Director of Special Education Leah Voorhies. Don't miss part two of our guided tour through these states’ epic data quality landscapes.

Canyons, plateaus, the Colorado River, good data. These are just some of the things that neighboring Arizona and Utah have in common. Host Amy Bitterman packs her bags and heads west to take it all in with guests Arizona State Director of Special Education Alissa Trollinger and her northerly neighbor Utah State Director of Special Education Leah Voorhies. Join us for a neighborly chat about these states’ data-quality landscapes.

The Princess Bride, Finding Dorie, The Goonies, data. Stories are everywhere you look, and this week A Date with Data is looking in the state of Maine. Join host Amy Bitterman for the second part of her conversation with even more members of the team from Maine’s Department of Education's Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education: Colette Sullivan, Mary Adley, Dr. Roberta Lucas, and more. We’re talking about sharing data and using that data to tell a story about inclusive education. It’s the Maine narrative, so don’t miss out.

There are many ways to tell a story: words, images, and, yes, data! Join host Amy Bitterman as she sits down with Erin Frazier, the Maine Department of Education’s Director of Special Services and Inclusive Education, Birth to 22, and her team as they talk about how they use data (and movie references!) to tell a story about inclusive education and least restrictive environments in their state.

Lights, mics, action…one more time! We return to Charlotte, North Carolina, for IDC's Interactive Institute 2023, where we grabbed some quality time with OSEP's Gregg Corr, Christine Pilgrim, and Richelle Davis to discuss how states can interact, influence, and improve their way to higher quality IDEA data. Join host Amy Bitterman and our very first studio audience for a lively episode of A Date with Data.

Lights, mics, action! In dating, as in life, it's important to keep things fresh and lively. That's why we took advantage of our time in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the IDC Interactive Institute 2023 to sit down with OSEP's Gregg Corr, Christine Pilgrim, and Richelle Davis. Join host Amy Bitterman for this national perspective on how states can interact, influence, and improve their way to higher quality IDEA data. It's the very first episode of A Date with Data recorded before a live studio audience!

In our last episode of A Date with Data, we got to know the Ohio IDEA Data Team. Now it's time for a deeper dive. Join host Amy Bitterman as she continues her conversation with this innovative octet as they cover strategies for the collection, analyzation, reporting, improvement, and use of IDEA data. Pull up a chair; there's room for one more.

Dates are one thing, but sometimes it’s fun to bring along the whole gang. In this week’s A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman does just that, sitting down with the entire Ohio IDEA Data Team to talk strategies for the collection, analyzation, reporting, improvement, and use of IDEA data. Things are getting crowded in the Buckeye State, but there’s always room for you to come along.