The six regional data warehouses (Willamette ESD, Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD, Eugene 4J SD, Beaverton SD, Portland Public Schools/Clackamas ESD and Hilsboro/Northwest Regional ESD) and the Oregon Department of Education came together on Thursday, May 13 at Willamette ESD to provide demonstrations and information of their data warehousing efforts.This event provided attendees with current information about the work being done around data warehousing and the direction the State is moving as an enterprise.

This meeting, which was a joint effort with the Data Quality Workgroup (DQWG) and the Education Enterprise Steering Committe (EESC), had over 100 people attend, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo. Data driven decision making and using relevant data is at the core of school improvement efforts around the state. Data warehouses are at the heart of supporting these school improvement efforts.

For those who were able to attend this meeting a survey has been created to gather your input for future events of this type. Please take a moment and complete the 10 question survey which is located here.

A report which details the current fucntionallity of the data warehouses in the state can be found here.

The Legislature, through the Oregon Department of Education, has alloacted $500,000 in funding for the 2009-11 biennium to provide one-time grants for connections to broadband resources for improving connectivity to schools and buildings which serve students that currently do not meet minimum standards. 

High Desert ESD, as the contracting agent on behalf of the EESC, will disseminate these grant funds to winning applicants, based on selection by the Review Committee and endorsement by the EESC.

The grant process is open as of Thursday, September 3, 2009 and will close on November 30, 2009 at 4:00 PM. Further details and complete information can be found in the application attached to this article.

Two question and answer sessions have been scheduled via WebEx. The first will be at 2:00 pm, Monday, September 14, 2009 and the second at 9:00 am, Wednesday, October 14, 2009. Complete details to access these WebEx meetings can be found here.