News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Fall Statistical Reports - Memo to Superintendents and Charter School Leaders

To:	Superintendents and Charter School Leaders
From:	Jeffrey Nellhaus, Acting Commissioner of Education
Date:	October 15, 2007

The following reports are required this fall:

Report	Level	Format	Due Date
1. SIMS Data elements	Student	Data file via web	Nov. 1
2. EPIMS Data Elements	Educator	Data file via web	Dec. 28
3. School Safety and Discipline Report	Incident/Student	Electronic web form	July 31, 2008
4. Individual Non-Public School Report*	Non-Public School	Paper	Nov. 8

* Not applicable for charter schools and regional vocational schools.

Student Information Management System (SIMS)

This fall we will continue to collect the SIMS 52 data elements. We have modified and removed several data elements to ensure that Massachusetts will be in compliance with the federal reporting requirements. Please refer to the SIMS website for additional information: Student Information Management System (SIMS).

Education Personnel Information Management System (EPIMS)

On October 9th the Department launched the statewide collection of the EPIMS data elements. This is the first time the Department has collected district and school staffing information at the individual level. The EPIMS collection replaces the District and School Staffing Report. Several web-based trainings were held in September to assist districts in the reporting of this information and application use. Please refer to the EPIMS website for additional information: Education Personnel Information Management System (EPIMS).

School Safety and Discipline Report

An updated version of this application will be available in early November and continue to be available throughout the year so that district staff can enter the information as the incidents occur. If your district has this information available in an electronic format, a second option for reporting is available. Instructions to send a School Safety and Discipline File can be found at: School Safety Discipline Report (SSDR).

Individual Non-Public School Report

Paper copies of the reports have been mailed directly to the schools. Principals have been instructed to complete these reports and return them to the Department by November 8th. We have asked the schools to forward a copy of their report to your office. The complete data collection schedule including documentation for the 2007-2008 school year can be found at: SIMS Schedule.

Directory Administration Functions Listing

The Directory Administration application database is the Department's primary source of contact information for districts and schools in the state. This fall we have added a new function to capture school nurse leader and school nurse contact information. The Department will be sharing the contact information for these functions with the Department of Public Health. This will enable DPH to have the most up-to-date information for monthly communications to school nurses. In order for Department staff to be able to communicate effectively with school district staff it is important that this information be up to date. Please review your district information in the District and School Profiles and update the information as needed in Directory Administration. Any district staff member who is a Directory Administrator can make the changes. In addition, if you have changes to grade levels or need to close or open a school, please notify us using the notification forms located on our website. If you have any questions about the fall reports, please call 781-338-DATA (3282). Thank you for your cooperation.

Last Updated: October 22, 2007