Special Education Data System Management and Design

Supporting data collection

Developing and implementing a special education data system can be a daunting task. Even with the support of a vendor, a large burden is placed on the state or school district managing the system and it's numerous components. Whether you are working to design a data system from scratch, developing a data system Request for Proposal (RFP), or need assistance with project and vendor management, our team at Crescent Bend Consulting can be an invaluable partner.  

Expand the sections below to learn about some of the different ways Crescent Bend Consulting can assist with special education data system design and management.

  • Special education data systems help streamline data collection and management. They assist with reporting IDEA data to satisfy both federal and state requirements and can improve data quality and validity. However, when building such a system from scratch, it can be hard to know where to start. In order to get the best product possible, it's important to know what a system should look like and how it should operate. Establishing this criteria on the front ensures successful development of RFPs to get strong proposals from vendors and it provides a clear roadmap for those building data systems in-house.

    SERVICES OFFERED

    • Assisting with development of special education data system design

    • Collaborating with staff to identify data elements, design system functionality, outline necessary reporting capabilities, and map out system rollout and implementation

    • Supporting development of data system edit checks that improve data quality

    • Assisting with development of RFPs to solicit strong proposals from vendors

  • After a special education data system has been designed or a vendor selected, the next step is developing a system implementation and management plan. This plan outlines how the system will be rolled out across a state or school district, how users will get system access and receive training, how issues or system bugs will be resolved, and the parties responsible for this work.

    When using a vendor, it's imperative to have someone within your organization managing the vendor and the executed contract. This ensures the vendor is meeting timelines, addressing any issues that arise and adhering their agreed upon responsibilities. Such management responsibilities should also be conducted when data systems are developed in-house.

    SERVICES OFFERED

    • Collaborating with staff on the development of a data system implementation plan to determine rollout processes

    • Developing and overseeing a management plan to ensure all parties responsible for the data system are completing work and meeting timelines

    • Liaising with vendors or in-house data system developers to streamline communication and manage tasks for the special education programmatic team

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