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SAS presents EVOS analytics platform to House subcommittee; state contract covers reporting and training
Summary
SAS representatives described EVOS, an education visualization and analytics system used in Michigan since 2018, and told the House appropriations subcommittee the state contract funds reporting and training at $2 million a year with optional district opt‑ins for additional classroom reports.
Tom Green, senior education policy advisor for SAS Institute, and Dr. Erica Prentice described the SAS Education Visualization and Analytics Solution (EVOS) to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and Department of Education, explaining its capabilities, uptake and the state contract terms.
Green said EVOS “provides a series of interactive academic growth reports across grades, subjects, and years at the student, classroom, school building, district, and state level,” drawing on M‑STEP, PSAT, ACT and SAT results and, for opt‑in districts, local assessments. Dr. Prentice highlighted EVOS projections that “give us insight into where students are likely to score on future assessments given an average schooling experience,” which districts can use to identify students needing early intervention.
SAS told the committee that Michigan’s annual contract line item (identified in the presentation as part of the state reporting budget) is $2,000,000 per reporting year and includes the public site, secured educator reports and statewide analytics. SAS representatives said there is no additional per‑district fee to opt into teacher- and classroom‑level reports; districts send local assessment and linkage files via the Michigan Data Hub (MyDataHub) and SAS processes that data into additional EVOS reports. The presenters said EVOS has been available to Michigan educators since 2018 and that 96% of independent districts have at least one local opt‑in (277 districts total, with 207 logging in for the last reporting round, per the presentation).
Presenters described training and support included in the state contract. Green and Dr. Prentice said SAS provides live trainings, webinars, desk references and help text in the reporting interface; SAS staff (former educators) field technical and usability questions. The contract also funds continuing development and technical assistance with intermediate school districts to help districts with varying technical capacity prepare and transfer local assessment data.
Committee members asked about districts’ technical burden and usage metrics. SAS said MyDataHub provides step‑by‑step guidance and that SAS can provide opt‑in and usage summaries to the Michigan Department of Education, which owns the state contract and usage data. A member asked for a report on district uptake and intensity of use; SAS said the state (MDE) controls that usage data and can release it.
No committee action was taken on the EVOS contract during the meeting; the presenters sought continued support for the reporting service and described how educators use EVOS projections and diagnostic reports to guide instruction. The presenters also gave examples of district practice: Anchor Bay’s superintendent Phil Jankowski used EVOS projections to move from an opt‑in to an opt‑out placement model for advanced courses, increasing enrollment and student growth in higher‑level classes.
