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(06/27/2018) Is anyone using the National Student Clearinghouse database able to get information about high school credentials/diploma or measurable skills gains while in high school from the clearinghouse? If yes, how are getting the information? What is in your contract that enables you to get high school information?

Question Submitted by: HarrietAnn Litwin
Organization: Delaware Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation

Responses

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Response From Audrey Merten, Wisconsin VR

Wisconsin’s DVR is in the beginning stages of obtaining National Student Clearing House (NSCH) data; thus far, we’ve received one batch file returned from them via a data-sharing agreement, and we continue to analyze that data. Our Department of Workforce Development is working on a new agreement with NSCH. We were under the impression that NSCH only provides information from postsecondary institutions. We look forward to hearing from other states if, in fact, secondary information is also available.

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Response From  Mitchel Close, South Dakota VR

No, South Dakota VR currently does not get information about HS credentials or MSG in HS from the National Student Clearinghouse. We do currently get postsecondary credential verification from the clearinghouse. I am interested in learning how/if HS records can be obtained from the clearinghouse, though. Thanks!

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Response From Ronald Barcikowski, Oregon VR

Not exactly, I am using the National Student Clearinghouse to obtain information about enrollments for clients who obtained a high school diploma. If they enrolled or obtained a credential while still in the VR program I would probably pick that up as well.

date September 25, 2018 author comments Comments Off on (06/27/2018) Is anyone using the National Student Clearinghouse database able to get information about high school credentials/diploma or measurable skills gains while in high school from the clearinghouse? If yes, how are getting the information? What is in your contract that enables you to get high school information?
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— (05/13/2016) Data visualization software, such as Tableau, is a tool that is being used by many state vocational rehabilitation agencies. However, questions have been raised about accessibility and 508-compliance. To what extent is such software accessible? What, if any, difficulties have users found with it regarding accessibility and compliance?

From Steven Tribbie, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities:

We have a relatively small number of staff that would require accessibility features and to date these staff have not used Tableau directly. Outputs from Tableau are generated in an accessible format, such as Crosstab (Excel), which are then distributed for staff use.

From Jennifer Beilke, MN State Services for the Blind:

MN State Services for the Blind does not use Tableau software.

From Darcy Fleming, Alliance Enterprises, Inc.:

I work with Alliance Enterprises, Inc. the software provider of Aware and reseller of Tableau Software. We have done extensive accessibility testing of Tableau because we are reselling the product. I have also had discussions directly with Tableau on their position regarding 508 compliance. At Alliance we decided to offer equal data analytics products in addition to Tableau because of accessibility limitations. These equivalent products are Microsoft based.

If you are interested we would be happy to share our findings with you and discuss the products we offer in addition to Tableau to meet accessibility. I also have 508-compliance level documentation from Tableau I can share, including their VPAT. Let me know if you are interested. (darcy.fleming@allianceenterprises.com)

date May 13, 2016 author comments Comments Off on — (05/13/2016) Data visualization software, such as Tableau, is a tool that is being used by many state vocational rehabilitation agencies. However, questions have been raised about accessibility and 508-compliance. To what extent is such software accessible? What, if any, difficulties have users found with it regarding accessibility and compliance?
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— (05/18/2015) The Wage Record Interchange System (WRIS) of the US Department of Labor facilitates the exchange of wage data among participating states for the purpose of assessing and reporting on state and local employment and training program performance, evaluating training provider performance, and for other purposes allowed under the WRIS Data Sharing Agreement. The exchange permits state workforce program performance agencies to secure wage data of individuals who have participated in workforce investment programs in one state, then subsequently secured employment in another.By participating in WRIS, states have a more robust picture of the effectiveness of their workforce investment programs, and are able to report more comprehensive outcomes against their performance measures. We would like to know what states are already involved with this system and, if so, what your experience has been. Thank you.

From Mike Hermanson, Disability Employment and Transitions, Montana:

Montana does not participate.

From Don Kay, WA-DVR:

Washington DVR does not participate directly in WRIS, but we do get employment verification data from our state Employment Security Department that provides us with out of state data.

From David Ritacco, Oregon VR:

We do not.

From Richard Clark, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services:

In Iowa all we are currently doing is collecting wage data from our DOL office. We are in talks with the other agencies at this time to build a shared data based were we can have better access to shared information among partners.

From David Higginbotham, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services:

We use a national tracking system and this has benefitted in locating consumers who have received VR serv ices in LA and obtained employment out of state.

date May 18, 2015 author comments Comments Off on — (05/18/2015) The Wage Record Interchange System (WRIS) of the US Department of Labor facilitates the exchange of wage data among participating states for the purpose of assessing and reporting on state and local employment and training program performance, evaluating training provider performance, and for other purposes allowed under the WRIS Data Sharing Agreement. The exchange permits state workforce program performance agencies to secure wage data of individuals who have participated in workforce investment programs in one state, then subsequently secured employment in another.By participating in WRIS, states have a more robust picture of the effectiveness of their workforce investment programs, and are able to report more comprehensive outcomes against their performance measures. We would like to know what states are already involved with this system and, if so, what your experience has been. Thank you.
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— (04/30/2015) We would like to know if your agency has worked with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Workforce Data Quality Initiatives (WDQI) that might be in your state and, if so, what has been the nature of the collaboration.Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has had four rounds of Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) grants in numerous states to develop state workforce longitudinal databases – a joint undertaking with U.S. Department of Education (ED)- that will build on the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) initiative that ED has underway to encourage the development of state education and workforce longitudinal administrative databases. Collecting these and other data sources longitudinally will provide a comprehensive picture of workers’ earnings throughout their careers. Through analysis, these data will demonstrate the relationship between education and training programs, as well as the additional contribution of the provision of other employment services.Each WDQI grantee is expected to fully develop (or expand in the case where states have a database underway) their workforce longitudinal database in addition to using that database to conduct analysis of state workforce and education systems. Additionally, WQDI grantees are expected to use this data analysis to create materials on state workforce performance to share with workforce system stakeholders and the public.

From Don Kay, WA-DVR:

Washington State DVR has not participated in any WDQI activities. I don’t even know if our state has ever received a WDQI grant from DOL.

From Kathleen Enders, WI VR:

No collaboration has been done

From Kirsten Rowe, Va. Dept. for Aging and Rehab. Services:

Yes, Virginia has had two WDQI grants, and DARS (the general VR agency in Virginia) has participated as a member of various interagency working groups implementing WDQI projects. We will be sharing de-identified VR participant data with the Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS) for the first time this year, and expect to receive WDQI funds to support an initial data quality analysis to learn more about the strengths and gaps in VLDS data and its data linking capabilities that may affect our ability to use VLDS for research and policy analysis, as well as routine performance monitoring and reporting.

From Steve Collins, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation:

Florida VR has only peripheral interactions with this system right now. It is more geared to education and workforce data, than a tie to VR caseload data and outcomes. The DOL report is at http://www.doleta.gov/Performance/pfdocs/FinalReport_updated.pdf and the Florida FETPIP webpage is at http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/fl-edu-training-placement-info-program.

From Ronald Barcikowski, Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation:

No.

From Richard Clark, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services:

Iowa has not that I am aware of.

date April 30, 2015 author comments Comments Off on — (04/30/2015) We would like to know if your agency has worked with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Workforce Data Quality Initiatives (WDQI) that might be in your state and, if so, what has been the nature of the collaboration.Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has had four rounds of Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) grants in numerous states to develop state workforce longitudinal databases – a joint undertaking with U.S. Department of Education (ED)- that will build on the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) initiative that ED has underway to encourage the development of state education and workforce longitudinal administrative databases. Collecting these and other data sources longitudinally will provide a comprehensive picture of workers’ earnings throughout their careers. Through analysis, these data will demonstrate the relationship between education and training programs, as well as the additional contribution of the provision of other employment services.Each WDQI grantee is expected to fully develop (or expand in the case where states have a database underway) their workforce longitudinal database in addition to using that database to conduct analysis of state workforce and education systems. Additionally, WQDI grantees are expected to use this data analysis to create materials on state workforce performance to share with workforce system stakeholders and the public.