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These pages provide guidance for field work on the usage of Ed-Fi descriptors.
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What is an Ed-Fi descriptor?
Descriptors are the data model elements that hold standardized enumerations - the "code sets" used to categorize data and power reporting and analytics. Examples would be:
- the academic subject for a course (Mathematics, Chemistry, Social Studies, etc.)
- the grade level a student in enrolled in ("Pre-K", "First Grade", etc.)
- the type of accommodation a student was provided for an assessment ("Scheduling", "Extra time", etc.)
In the Ed-Fi data model, each element that is populated by pre-defined code set is referred to as a "descriptor."
Descriptor Usage Classifications
A common question in the community is when and how to use custom values either in addition to or instead of the standard set provided by Ed-Fi. The following classifications are not part of the formal Ed-Fi specifications, but are based on an analysis of community practice by the Alliance and provide some guidance with regards to where agencies and organizations are likely to find more value in staying within the Ed-Fi descriptor value sets. There are four classifications: Standard, Orthodox, Flexible, and Local.
| Classification | Definition | Recommendation | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | There is reason to value standardization highly, because the community is highly standardized (but not perfectly standardized!) often because of Federal standards for EDFacts reporting. There is reason to believe that with sufficient governance a "good enough for most use cases" set of values is possible. | The recommended practice is to stay within the Ed-Fi set if at all possible. It is very likely that the Ed-Fi value set is mandated by a standard. | SchoolFoodServiceProgramService |
| Orthodox | The community is mostly standardized, but exceptions and localization are not infrequent. For these descriptors, Ed-Fi will define list that mirrors the standardization seen in the community. | The recommended practice is to map to / use all Ed-Fi values within this set when possible, but add local values when and where there is high value to doing so. However, realize that in so doing there may be sacrifices to interoperability. | GradeLevel |
| Flexible | The community is somewhat standardized, or there is one or more common, broadly-adopted vernacular classifications around the concept. Local usage may be completely at odds with the vernacular, and that is to be expected in some cases. For this set, Ed-Fi will generally define a "starter" set of values that mirror the most common vernacular. | The recommended practice is to map to / use Ed-Fi values when applicable, but to also feel free to remove or avoid unnecessary Ed-Fi values. | InternetAccess |
| Local | The option set values are highly localized in nearly all cases. For this set, Ed-Fi will generally define a "sample" set of values that illustrate possible values, or not provide any Ed-Fi defined values at all. | The recommended practice here is to add your own values. There should be no hard or reason to preserve any "default" Ed-Fi-defined values here. Note that many “local” values are classified that way because they are set by the state DOE and districts tend to use the state codes or values. | GradingPeriod |
Note that these classifications are somewhat arbitrary and may not apply to all use cases - there may be use cases where GradeLevel should be localized!
Just to repeat: these are not "official" categories but are based on observations of usage within the Ed-Fi community. Specific Ed-Fi standards and certifications will mandate certain value sets for compliance reasons (so if a product chooses to conform to that specification, those value will be "standard").
Descriptors by Domain
- Alternative and Supplemental Services
- Assessment
- Bell Schedule
- Discipline
- Education Organization
- Enrollment
- Finance
- Graduation
- Intervention
- School Calendar
- Staff
- Student Academic Record
- Student Attendance
- Student Cohort
- Student Identification and Demographics
- Survey
- Teaching and Learning
Descriptor FAQ
Answers to some of the most common questions from the community around descriptors can be found in the Descriptor FAQ.
Important Links