TIME

Time Fiscal Resources Capacity Advice to Policymakers

The creation of a data warehouse will not happen overnight. Even in states that collect a wide range of data, making sure that the data are accurate and can be merged with other data systems is a time-consuming practice. Teacher preparation programs also require substantial time to set up data collection systems that are integrated with existing data systems. Moreover, traditional preparation programs must wait for clearance by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) before collecting such data.

States that currently collect very little TQ data could take 2–5 years to produce even a very basic TQ data system that meets all the basic requirements of such a data system and is accessible to researchers and teacher preparation programs. Even states that collect a fairly substantial amount of data could need at least 2 years to integrate the data systems. For example, Texas contracted with an outside entity to integrate the state’s four major databases: (a) teacher production/certification, (b) school/district information, (c) student achievement, and (d) higher education. The project took 2 years (and millions of dollars) to create a state P-16 data warehouse available on the web that could provide data to the public.

With respect to credible evidence on teacher preparation program graduates, a teacher preparation program that currently does not collect data and is located in a state that does not have a state-level TQ data warehouse could take as many as 3 years just to collect a basic set of data on program graduates. Collecting a fuller set of data to answer a larger set of questions could take even longer. Even a program located in a state with a TQ data warehouse realistically could expect to take over a year to collect and analyze basic data about program graduates.

Last updated: February 6, 2006