Dept of Education requires publication of erroneous data on degree completion rates

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by John Bear, Sep 19, 2003.

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  1. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    I've been looking at information on degree completion rates, since the discussion here began.

    The Chronicle of Higher Ed has just reported a rather amazing (to me) situation in which federal rules require erroneous data on this topic to be published.

    Many people have interest in graduation rates for black students compared with white, and athletes compared with non-athletes.

    However: the Department of Education will not allow release of any data that would permit identification of any individual student.

    It is the case that eight Division I universities did not graduate even one basketball player who started school in 1992 through 1995.

    As a result, the Department of Education requires that the data from these schools, as well as other with two or fewer graduates in any given category, be suppressed (i.e. not included in the tallies) since that would allow people to figure out which individuals had not graduated.

    And the murder rate in New York is down this year, because victims whose last names start with the letters A through F are no longer included in the totals.

    Bah, I say.
     
  2. Sam Stewart

    Sam Stewart Member

    They are complying with FERPA. This same issue arises with the reporting of public school performance data on statewide assessments. If the performance of an individual student can be ascertained when the data is reported, you have just violated that students civil rights.

    The following is taken from the Department of Education website:

    Disclosure of Education Records

    A school must:

    Have a student's consent prior to the disclosure of education records;
    Ensure that the consent is signed and dated and states the purpose of the disclosure.

    A school MAY disclose education records without consent when:

    The disclosure is to school officials who have been determined to have legitimate educational interests as set forth in the institution's annual notification of rights to students;
    The student is seeking or intending to enroll in another school;
    The disclosure is to state or local educational authorities auditing or enforcing Federal or State supported education programs or enforcing Federal laws which relate to those programs;
    The disclosure is to the parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes;
    The disclosure is in connection with determining eligibility, amounts, and terms for financial aid or enforcing the terms and conditions of financial aid;
    The disclosure is pursuant to a lawfully issued court order or subpoena; or
    The information disclosed has been appropriately designated as directory information by the school.
     
  3. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Well then, with all that in mind, I'd like to officially inform the Dept. of Education that I'm running a bit late on some of my project deadlines.
    ;)
    Jack
     

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