Committee approves data-sharing agreement for doctoral research on LETRS and reading outcomes

The Rules Committee approved a research data-sharing agreement enabling Liz Bernfeldt, a doctoral candidate and USBE employee, to access de-identified student data for a dissertation examining the effect of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training on students’ literacy as measured by the Acadience reading test.

Katie Chalice, director of privacy, described the request and explained that Bernfeldt is requesting data for cohorts in lower grades from LEAs that participated in LETRS training. Chalice noted that Bernfeldt is both a doctoral candidate and a USBE employee and that the agency receives two to four similar doctoral data requests each year, which the board has historically approved.

Committee members discussed whether the data would be de-identified and whether results would be shared with LEAs; Chalice said data would have direct identifiers removed and that student unique IDs (Student_ID) would be USBE’s internal identifier. Committee members confirmed Bernfeldt intends to share study results with agencies to help evaluate LETRS training. Bernfeldt spoke briefly, explaining the research question was proposed after consulting USDE staff and a former USBE chief of staff during an internship.

A motion to approve the research data-sharing agreement passed unanimously. Committee members emphasized the request would use de-identified data under USBE’s definition and raised FERPA context during the discussion.

No additional conditions were recorded in the transcript; the motion forwarded the data-sharing agreement to the full board for approval.