ESP Solutions Group

05-25-2010
Montana OPI Contracts with ESP for Data Governance Development

The Montana Office of Public Instruction has contracted with ESP to document the approach, requirements, and planning necessary for the development of a Data Governance implementation project. A well-designed data governance structure will help to ensure that new OPI data needs will be carefully analyzed for how they fit within existing structures, promote the use of “best practices” in developing policies and procedures for collecting and maintaining data, and ensure that perspectives of all stakeholders are taken into consideration.

04-20-2010
ESP Providing Louisiana DOE with Information Systems Architecture, Data Access and Management Policy, and DataSpecs for LEDRS Project

As part of the Louisiana Education Data Repository System (LEDRS) Project, ESP will provide the following products/services: Information Systems Architecture, Data Access and Management Policy, and a data dictionary using its DataSpecs tool.

04-15-2010
Montana OPI Contracts with ESP for Planning Phase of the Statewide Longitudinal Data System

ESP was selected by the Montana Office of Public Instruction to develop the enterprise architecture and requirements for a statewide longitudinal data warehouse and to produce the RFP that evaluates bidders on the implementation of the data warehouse and associated ETL and business intelligence environment.

08-25-2009
Natrona County Schools Hires ESP for Strategic Planning and Data Warehouse Procurement

ESP was hired by Natrona County Schools in Wyoming to design and plan for how education data will be collected, organized, and provided for data-driven decision making. Specific tasks include: creating an over-arching information systems architecture, documenting current components of the information system and show how they exchange data with each other through ESP's ISInsight process mapping tool, detailing the requirements for a data warehouse through an RFP process, and assisting with the procurement and implementation of the selected solution.

07-01-2009
Oklahoma SDE Hires ESP for Longitudinal Data System Planning

ESP has been hired by the Oklahoma State Department of Education to establish a plan for their Longitudinal Data System. ESP will provide professional services and expertise in the areas of data standards, data exchange, confidentiality, and reporting.

07-01-2009
Alaska EED Engages ESP for SRM/SIF Implementation

ESP is working with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to improve their longitudinal data system. Work included in the agreement involves ESP's D3M Information Systems Architecture, DataSpecs (for metadata inventory), State Report Manager (for data collection), and configuration and implementation of the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF).

06-29-2009
Idaho DOE Implementing State Report Manager for Statewide Data Collections

The Idaho Department of Education has chosen ESP's State Report Manager product to improve statewide data collections. SRM will become part of the larger Idaho Basic Education Data System (IBEDS).

04-09-2009
ESP Solutions Group Sells Largest E-Transcript and Student Record Exchange Provider to Pearson

ESP Solutions Group, Inc. (ESP) recently announced that they have completed the sale of the National Transcript Center, Inc. (NTC) to Pearson.
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02-15-2009
ESP Releases Optimal Reference Book on Growth Models

Growth Models are currently being over valued, under challenged, and are in need of critical evaluation. Find out more in our Optimal Reference Book, "Growth Models - Finding Real Gains."
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01-16-2009
ESP Contributes to USED's New Report on D3M Data Systems

"Implementing Data-Informed Decision Making in Schools--Teacher Access, Supports, and Use" reviews student data systems, how they are used by school staff members, and whether or not they are influencing student instruction.
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01-15-2009
Final FERPA Regulation Amendments Released

The U.S. Department of Education's (USED) final regulation amendments under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) took effect on January 8, 2009. Find out how ESP can help your agency adhere to the new laws.
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12-01-2008
Data-Driven Decision Making 2016

On November 16th, 2008 Dr. Glynn Ligon, ESP's CEO and President, will join Chester E. Finn, Jr. from the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation for a panel discussion about the future of education data.
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06-01-2008
Idaho SDE Selects ESP to Help Improve Data Management

In an effort to greatly improve data management, ESP has been selected by the State to provide D3M Information System Architecture (ISA) services, a DataSpecs data collection inventory, and a data system redesign requirements plan.

02-01-2008
ESP's Participation in SIFA Remains Strong with 2008 Elections

ESP continues to have strong representation within the Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA) according to the 2008 elections. ESP Chief Architect, Alex Jackl was elected for a third term as a Co-Chair of the SIFA Technical Board. He will also serve as the Instructional Services Task Force Lead and the Data Model Task Force Co-Lead. ESP Vice President, Steven King, was elected to a third term as a member of the SIFA Board of Directors and will now serve as their Treasurer. ESP Vice President, Barbara Andrepont, was elected for a second term on the SIFA Technical Board and will once again serve as the Student Record Exchange Task Force Lead.

02-01-2008
Secretary Spelling Acknowledges MO's Strong Data System, Built in Partnership with ESP

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today joined Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. D. Kent King for a meeting with the State Board of Education in Jefferson City, Mo., where she delivered remarks and discussed how the Federal government can support and facilitate further academic gains made by Missouri students under No Child Left Behind. Secretary Spellings applauded Missouri's efforts to increase accountability and discussed opportunities for improvement and innovation under No Child Left Behind. "Missouri is helping raise the bar by setting high standards and developing a strong data system that honestly and accurately looks at student achievement and helps target federal resources to serve the neediest students," said Secretary Spellings.
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01-01-2008
CA DOE Awards $15M Longitudinal Data System Contract to ESP/IBM Team

The California Department of Education selected IBM, subcontracting partner Microsoft Corp., and business partners ESP Solutions Group to design and develop a new system called CALPADS (California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System).
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11-01-2007
ESP Awarded Contract to Provide Strategic Data Management Plan for Delaware DOE

ESP will provide the Delaware DOE with strategic planning and architecture for enterprise data management. This work includes enterprise data inventory, data dictionary development, and metadata mapping services.

09-01-2007
Alaska DOE Selects ESP for Web-Based Educational Portal System

ESP will implement a web-based portal system that will assist the State and its districts with online data collection necessary to meet the reporting requirements of NCLB and the Alaska Performance Incentive Program.
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08-01-2007
ESP Wins Connecticut DOE Longitudinal Data Contract

ESP Solutions Group was recently awarded a contract to develop a statewide longitudinal education data system for the state. The new system will utilize decision support dissemination tools to meet the increasing demands for education data and will enable CSDE stakeholders to make informed decisions based on timely and accurate information.

05-23-2007
ESP Hosts 2nd Annual Student Information System Vendor Workshop

ESP Solutions Group is hosting the 2nd SIS Vendor Workshop for SIS vendors about SIS vendor needs in Austin, Texas this week. ESP and several SIS vendors are discussing ways to resolve issues regarding automating record-level data exchange. The talks result in design recommendations to the SIS community through a universal requirements document. The document details how SISs can be fully prepared to handle increasing requests for data. For more information on this topic, email info@espsg.com.

05-23-2007
ESP Hosts 2nd Annual Student Information System Vendor Workshop

ESP Solutions Group is hosting the 2nd SIS Vendor Workshop for SIS vendors about SIS vendor needs in Austin, Texas this week. ESP and several SIS vendors are discussing ways to resolve issues regarding automating record-level data exchange. The talks result in design recommendations to the SIS community through a universal requirements document. The document details how SISs can be fully prepared to handle increasing requests for data. For more information on this topic, email info@espsg.com.

04-01-2007
Rhode Island DOE Expands Contract to Include Statewide SIF Services

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) has expanded its current project with ESP Solutions Group in order to advance statewide SIF (Schools Interoperability Framework) usage. The primary goal of this project is to use SIF to automate the vertical reporting of data from CSIS (Consortium Student Information System) through ESP's State Report Manager to the RIDE data warehouse.
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03-15-2007
West Virginia DOE Chooses NTC to Provide eTranscripts Statewide

The National Transcript Center (a division of ESP) will provide electronic transcript/record exchange from public K-12 schools to colleges/universities within the state of West Virginia.

03-15-2007
ESP Unveils D3M Portal

ESP announces a new portal-based system designed to help state education agencies easily access, manage, and share critical information. Find out how our solution addresses enterprise identity management, quality data management, unique student record management, and longitudinal data analysis. Visit www.espsg.com/solutions for more information.

02-01-2007
First-Ever SIF Electronic Transcript Produced by National Transcript Center

The National Transcript Center (a division of ESP) announced today that it has produced the first electronic student transcript using the Schools Interoperability Framework Association's (SIFA) 2.0 Student Record Exchange (SRE) specification. To date, no other company has successfully produced this type of transcript.
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02-01-2007
TEA Awards statewide eTranscript Contract to NTC

The National Transcript Center (a division of ESP) announced today that it was awarded a three-year contract from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the development and deployment of the Texas Records Exchange System (TREx).
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01-01-2007
ESP's State Report Manager Dramatically Accelerates Data Collection at WDE

Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) completed their 2006 Special Education statewide data collection within 21 days by converting to ESP's State Report Manager(SRM) software. The 21 day process was a major improvement over the prior year's collection, which is still being finalized.
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11-01-2006
Maine DOE Selects ESP for Data Inventory Project

ESP is using DataSpecs (an ESP metadata inventory tool) to help the DOE standardize data definitions, codes, and formats, which will facilitate the sharing of information across all applications without the need to reformat data time and time again.

10-01-2006
ESP's State Report Manager Instrumental in MOSIS Phase III and IV at Missouri DESE

ESP is working with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to replace existing aggregate core collections with record-level collections through ESP's State Report Manager.

09-01-2006
Wyoming DOE Awards NTC with Statewide Contract for Electronic Transcripts

The National Transcript Center (a division of ESP) will provide electronic transcript/record exchange for every K-12 school and college/university in the state of Wyoming, and support Wyoming's state scholarship program as well as K-20 tracking of students.

08-01-2006
ESP Announces Disaster Prevention and Business Continuation Tools for Education

Building on our history in educational consulting, ESP Solutions Group has created what we believe is long overdue: A truly customized disaster planning process for school systems. Our tools help you keep your information systems functioning through any event that threatens to disrupt education. To learn more about ESP Disaster Prevention and Recovery Tools, and to download our free informative whitepaper, Disaster Prevention and Recovery for School System Technology, visit www.disasterfreeschools.com.

07-01-2006
ESC Region 10 (TX) Chooses ESP for Data Warehouse Consultation and Implementation Expertise

ESP was selected to document the specifications, architecture, and requirements for a data warehouse to serve the needs of Education Service Center Region 10 and its clients (which include 80 public school districts in Texas). ESC Region 10 will use the requirements to issue a request for proposals, and ESP will provide consultation in the review and selection process for the successful proposer. ESP will also provide implementation/integration services to ensure that the EMPOWER project is successful, timely, and meets all agreed-upon requirements of ESC Region 10 and its clients.

06-01-2006
Rhode Island DOE Awards Contract to ESP for Central Education Information Warehouse

ESP is leading the effort to provide the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with centralized application software and analytical data tools across state and local education agencies. Within the project, ESP's State Report Manager is being using for state data collections.

05-01-2006
Alaska DOE Selects ESP for Data Warehouse Expertise

ESP is providing consulting services to the DOE regarding design specifications of their data warehouse.

04-01-2006
Ohio DOE Hires ESP for SIF Gap Analysis

ESP is providing the DOE with a comprehensive SIF gap analysis of EMIS and related data collections, supporting the state's efforts to transition Education Management Information System (EMIS) collections to use the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) specification.

03-01-2006
ESP Helps Form The D3M Alliance to Help State Education Agencies

ESP has joined Edustructures, Microsoft, TetraData and Choice Solutions to form the D3M Alliance. The D3M Alliance has created specifically to meet the unique data interoperability needs of State Education Agencies an open data framework that provides a replicable, enterprise interoperability architecture that addresses state reporting needs for identity management, vertical reporting and longitudinal data management.
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03-01-2006
Oregon DOE Engages ESP for Data Inventory Project

ESP is using DataSpecs (an ESP metadata inventory tool) to help the DOE standardize data definitions, codes, and formats, which will facilitate the sharing of information across all applications without the need to reformat data time and time again.

02-01-2006
Wyoming DOE Achieves First SIF-Based Vertical Reporting

For the first time ever, a state education agency collected data from its districts using technologies based on the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) specifications. In a span of only eight business days, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) collected district level information on every teacher, course, and student in the state using ESP's State Report Manager.
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01-01-2006
Oregon DOE Consults ESP for AYP Expertise

ESP was chosen by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to examine their internal business processes used in the production of Adequate Yearly Progress/Report Card. ESP will review current ODE technical processes and procedures and provide suggestions for improvement, resulting in better communication with school districts and better quality data.
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12-01-2005
Pennsylvania DOE Awards ESP Contract for a Statewide Student ID System

ESP was awarded the contract to provide Pennsylvania with a new statewide student identifier system for the DOE. The project, PAsecureID, involves creating unique, permanent, and anonymous student identifiers for each of the 1.8 million public school students in the state and is part of a larger education data management initiative called the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS).

10-01-2005
ESP's National Transcript Center Secures Corporate Membership with AACRAO

The National Transcript Center (NTC) is now a corporate member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). The mission of AACRAO is to provide professional development, guidelines and voluntary standards to be used by higher ed officials regarding the best practices in records management, admissions, enrollment management, administrative information technology and student services. The new affiliation assists both parties by increasing exposure of NTC's services to AACRAO's membership.

08-01-2005
ESP Creates National Transcript Center to Facilitate Electronic Transcript Exchange

ESP Solutions Group announced the official formation of the National Transcript Center (NTC), a centralized server for the intrastate and interstate exchange of official student records and transcripts. NTC helps registrars in both secondary and postsecondary institutions exchange sensitive student records in a more secure, more cost effective, simpler, and more efficient environment.

07-01-2005
Wyoming DOE Awards $4 Million Contract to ESP for Statewide Data System

The Wyoming Department of Education has awarded ESP and its strategic partners Edustructures and eScholar a contract to build the country's most sophisticated statewide student information system. This system will be based on technologies compliant with Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) specifications. The new Wyoming Integrated Statewide Education Data System (WISE) includes a next generation state reporting system, a SIF-based unique identifier system, Zone Integration Servers throughout the state, and the installation and configuration of up to 10 SIF agents for every district in the state.
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06-01-2005
Mckinney ISD Engages ESP for Long Term Strategic Planning Effort

Under a contract with The Sextant Group, ESP helped develop a long-term technology plan for McKinney ISD. ESP gathered information system requirements, developed technical standards and tools, and analyzed issues pertaining to data confidentiality and access.

05-01-2005
Missouri DESE Awards Statewide Student ID Contract to ESP

ESP was awarded the prime contract to design and implement a statewide student identifier and locator system. Missouri was able to start assigning student id's within 5 months of the project kick-off, which sets a record for the shortest implementation time to date. Missouri's new system uses Uniq-ID from eScholar to generate, store, assign, and locate student identifiers.
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04-01-2005
Alaska DOE Selects ESP to Overhaul the State's Data Dictionary

ESP was selected as the prime contractor in revamping Alaska's data dictionary and advising the state on strategic planning considerations. Defining and collecting these elements into a central repository are first steps in a long line of exciting new initiatives for the State.

03-01-2005
South Carolina DOE Awards Million Dollar Contract to ESP for Statewide Student IDs

This project advances ESP's position as the leading integrator of statewide student identification systems. ESP is proud to announce this contract alongside its strategic partners eScholar (the leading UID provider) and Edustructures (the #1 provider of SIF software and solutions). This will have every school district in South Carolina assigning and receiving ID's through their existing student information system.
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12-01-2004
SIF Uses ESP's Document Generation Technology to Assess SEA/LEA Readiness

ESP's Document Generation technology has been utilized by the Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIF) to survey state and local education agencies on their readiness to deploy SIF compliant systems. This special preview version shows the tool's base functionality. The technology is unique in that respondents receive an editable MS Word document as an output.

12-01-2004
Nebraska DOE Awards Multimillion Dollar Contract for New Student Record System

ESP Solutions Group and Deloitte Consulting team to design and deploy new statewide student record system. NDE's new student record system includes a statewide student identifier system, decision support system, and a comprehensive electronic student record collection and reporting system.

11-01-2004
ESP Completes Long Term Strategic Technology Plan for Houston ISD

ESP assessed the district's current instructional technology and business systems environment to determine the long-term objectives and provide a framework for successful technology and data integration initiatives.

10-01-2004
Missouri DESE Hires ESP for State Strategic Planning

ESP was engaged to assist Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education in scoping and planning future data systems.

09-01-2004
Kansas SDOE Consults ESP for Future Data Systems

ESP will advise Kansas State Department of Education on near term and long term data systems design and acquisition.

09-01-2004
Missouri DESE Utilizes ESP's State Report Manager for Statewide Assessments

Using ESP's State Report Manager, Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education receives electronic information for assessment precoding for all of its 524 school districts. This new process dramatically improves the quality of data and saves the State money.

08-01-2004
Puerto Rico DOE Awards ESP Contract to Calculate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

The Puerto Rico Department of Education has hired ESP to calculate its NCLB-mandated AYP. ESP's proposal was especially compelling to PRDE because of ESP's long history in Spanish language education data programs, including migrant education, student mobility, and student assessment systems.

07-01-2004
ESP Assists All 52 State Education Agencies, Part of USED Contract

The Performance Based Data Management Initiative (PBDMI) is the future of state-to-federal reporting and ESP continues to play a major role in its adoption and success. The U.S. Department of Education and Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) contracted ESP to visit every SEA and provide technical assistance on how each agency can improve the efficiency of its federal reporting through PBDMI.

02-01-2004
Iowa DOE Awards ESP Contract to Build State Student ID and Locator System

Iowa is the latest state to build a Student ID and Locator system. The project will facilitate tracking and reporting of NCLB required data.

11-01-2003
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory Hires ESP for Consulting Services

Regional research center expands relationship with ESP. ESP will provide consulting services and expertise.

10-01-2003
American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) Engages ESP for STATS Project

09-01-2003
Wyoming DOE Engages ESP to Assist in Designing SIF Compliant Information System

ESP was picked to establish scope of the first state SIF deployment in the country. The Wyoming Department of Education is one of the first state education agencies to standardize an entire state on the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) standard. This landmark deployment is being closely watched by the rest of the country.

08-01-2003
University of Texas System Hires ESP for the Online Assessment Project

ESP will co-develop a new free Internet-based, interactive website titled "TRACK" (TAKS Readiness and Core Knowledge) to help 10th and 11th grade students prepare for the TAKS test.

07-01-2003
Georgia DOE Chooses ESP to give the Governor's Student Information Task Force Presentation

ESP will present to a subcommittee of the Governor's Student Information Task Force on best practices for assigning statewide student identifiers.

07-01-2003
Nixon Peabody Engages ESP for Georgia AYP Calculations

Through a contract with Nixon Peabody, ESP will work on Annual Yearly Progress calculations for the Georgia Department of Education.

06-01-2003
Nebraska DOE Picks ESP to Provide a State-Level Student Data System

ESP will work on the design and configuration of a state level student data system for the Nebraska Department of Education.

05-01-2003
Virginia DOE Engages ESP for Consulting Services

ESP will provide academic and research consulting services to the Virginia Department of Education, including summary report and recommendations for meeting NCLB reporting requirements.

03-01-2003
Nevada DOE Hires ESP for the SMART Project

ESP will work with WestEd to design and implement SMART, Nevada's first statewide individual student record collection system.

03-01-2003
CCSSO Picks ESP for the Performance Based Data Management Initiative

ESP will conduct site visits to all states to determine the states’ preparation to submit electronic data records to USED for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

12-01-2002
Wisconsin DOE Selects ESP to Develop and Maintain the Student Identification System

12-01-2002
National Center for Educational Statistics Awards ESP the 2003 Conventional Wisdom Project

11-01-2002
New Jersey DOE Hires ESP to Produce the New Jersey Report Card

10-10-2002
Council of Chief State School Officers Selects ESP for the ARD Project and NCES Data Handbooks

07-01-2002
California DOE engages ESP and MGT of America, Inc. for Data Management and Implementation Plan

04-01-2002
Council of Chief State School Officers Hires ESP for the ASR-CAS Study Group Research / Paper

03-01-2002
Colorado DOE Hires ESP to Prepare Individual Student Identifiers

03-01-2002
Colorado DOE Chooses ESP to Prepare School Accountability Reports

08-01-2001
Westat Hires ESP for the MD Assessment

ESP will provide support for developing multimedia assessments for the MD Assessment in Fine Arts Education.

10-01-2000
Just for the Kids Hires ESP for Website Support

ESP will maintain and support the Just for the Kids website, including data imports and updates to the site.

07-01-2000
CCSSO Awards ESP the USED Enterprise Information Management System Project

03-01-2000
Council of Chief State School Officers Chooses ESP for Web Site Development

ESP will lead the development of a website to collect and maintain information about state data collection issues.

02-01-2000
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory Engages ESP to Produce a Disaggregation Guide

07-01-1999
American Institutes for Research Hires ESP for PES Project Consulting

05-01-1999
New Hampshire DOE Picks ESP for a Dropout Data Collection

04-01-1999
Ohio DOE Chooses ESP for the Performance Accountability Committee

Preparation for and presentation made to the Performance Accountability Committee of the Ohio Department of Education.

02-01-1999
Mississippi DOE Hires ESP to Produce a Data Dictionary

10-01-1998
Sierra Systems Consultants, Incorporated Subcontracts ESP for a New Hampshire DOE Project

09-01-1998
Massachusetts DOE Engages ESP for Vendor Training

05-01-1998
Vermont DOE Chooses ESP for AYP and the MIS Project

05-01-1998
Riverside Publishing Company Hires ESP for Consulting Services

04-01-1998
Massachusetts DOE Picks ESP for National Information Technology Profile Survey, Student ID Numbers

02-01-1998
Computer Sciences Corporation Selects ESP to Develop Periodicity

10-01-1997
Nevada DOE Chooses ESP to Produce the Nevada Report Card

02-01-1996
Massachusetts DOE Selects ESP to Develop a Data Dictionary and Provide Consultation for Technology

01-01-1996
Nevada DOE Engages ESP to Create a Software Package