Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Information Systems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board shifts approach on student-information proposal, asks for $35 million to upgrade disparate systems
Summary
The board voted to request statutory language for uniform reporting systems and to amend a prior $38 million single-SIS proposal to a $35 million, five-year grant to help local education agencies bring existing systems into compliance.
The Utah State Board of Education voted to request statutory language enabling a uniform reporting framework across existing local student information systems and to amend a prior funding request that sought a single statewide student-information system (SIS). Instead of a single-SIS approach, the board moved to request $35 million in one-time funds dispersed over five years to support local education agencies’ updates to bring their current systems into a uniform reporting framework.
Board member Davis, the motion maker, told colleagues the change responds to district resistance to a single statewide SIS and reflects a desire to support multiple existing systems that can interoperate. "We're currently across the state using 10 systems," Davis said, and the funding would be distributed via grants based on needs to help LEAs reach reporting compliance.
Multiple members asked about the fiscal basis for the $35 million figure. Davis said the estimate derives from prior study and that the $38 million figure had been developed as a cost estimate for building or procuring a single SIS; the amended approach removes $3 million from the earlier request and spreads the remainder over five years. Scott (staff) told the board the $35 million estimate is consistent with experience building the USIM structure and said the amount would support local updates and interoperability without mandating a single system.
Board discussion referenced data reliability concerns and recent high-profile breaches in the education sector; some members emphasized local control and the need for interoperable systems rather than a centralized repository. The motion passed on a recorded vote of 11 in favor and 3 opposed (Members Carey, Green and Brenton), with staff directed to pursue statutory language similar to the state's uniform financial-systems statute but limited to currently used student information systems. The board also instructed staff to distribute funds via grants to LEAs based on need.
