Content Comparison

Executive Summary

In 2024, the Ed-Fi Alliance conducted a thorough assessment of the implementation and extension of its Unifying Data Model (Ed-Fi UDM, a.k.a. Ed-Fi core model) across state-wide implementations. The primary objective was to identify deviations from the Ed-Fi UDM and promote a more standardized use of the model. This initiative is intended to help vendors reduce their implementation and operational costs, thereby simplifying their decision to expand the Ed-Fi community by partnering with additional states. The analysis provided valuable insights into adoption trends and identified opportunities for enhanced standardization. Ed-Fi Alliance produced detailed reports for each state, highlighting areas for better alignment with the core model and updating the Ed-Fi UDM to reflect common use cases identified through this analysis. In 2025, Ed-Fi Alliance plans to collaborate with all Ed-Fi states to discuss state-specific improvement opportunities and develop actions towards the standardized use of the Ed-Fi UDM. Furthermore, the Alliance will enhance the documentation of best practices in employing the Ed-Fi UDM. This method will fulfill the primary objective of lowering implementation and operational costs of vendors.

The study revealed that states often created extensions to address specific needs not covered State implementation analyses highlighted that Ed-Fi states frequently developed extensions to meet specific requirements not addressed by the core model. These extensions included encompassed areas such as special education, student transportation, assessment administration, and career pathways. For instanceexample, Texas introduced numerous extensions, including 20 new entities and 491 attributes, covering accountability data, special education, and finance. In contrastConversely, states like South Carolina and Wisconsin focused concentrated on more targeted extensions, such as assessment administration and immunization records.

Common themes across states included the need for some detailed tracking of special education programs, student enrollment, and attendance, and specific program participation data. States like Arizona, Delaware, and Georgia created extensions for school and section enrollments, discipline, and student program evaluations. Similarly, Indiana and Kansas focused on alternative education programs, curricular material assistance, and CTE instruction and certification. Minnesota and Nebraska addressed needs in course offerings, discipline, post-graduation activities, and crisis events.

To enhance alignment and interoperability, several These extensions analyzed carefully and recommendations were made to Ed-Fi states . These included for better alignment with the Ed-Fi UDM. Some of these recommendations are about utilizing existing core attributes where possible, migrating to newer versions of the Ed-Fi data model, and reviewing and updating definitions. The Ed-Fi Alliance also considered explored consolidating multiple entity extensions and collaborating across with states to identify common extension attributes for potential inclusion in the commonalities for core model inclusion.

As a result, the Ed-Fi Alliance extended the capacity of the Ed-Fi UDM in Data Standard v5.1 and v5.2 to include student health, transportation, assessment registration, and Section 504 programs. Additionally, the Alliance initiated an overhaul of domain-specific best practices and business rules guidance, which will continue in 2025 (see for examples: Enrollment domain, Alternative and supplemental services, Assessment registration, Student Attendance, Teaching and Learning).

Moving forward, the Ed-Fi Alliance will continue to work with state educational agencies (SEAs) to improve their alignment with the Ed-Fi UDM, update the model to reflect changing community needs, and create better on common usage of extension, and extend the documentation of domain specific best practice guidance. With these strategies, Ed-Fi Alliance intends to provide best opportunities for vendors to reduce implementation costs. The Alliance will also conduct similar analyses and engage with its community to standardize specification documentation shared with their Ed-Fi Allianceimplementation and operation costs.

State Reports: Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin