A JOINT RESOLUTION authorizing the legislative research commission to study issues related to data collection by the department of public instruction.
Whereas, the expectations placed on the public schools by the State and federal governments, local boards of education, students, parents, and others continue to change; and
Whereas, school administrators, policymakers, and others constantly need additional data in useable forms to meet these expectations; and
Whereas, federal laws including the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 require new types of data on students; and
Whereas, the data system at the Department of Public Instruction is confusing and outdated; and
Whereas, the Department of Public Instruction does not have the ability to cross‑reference data across categories; and
Whereas, there are several different definitions of terms such as dropout rates, high school completion rates, and graduation rates, which makes meaningful analysis of data extremely difficult; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The Legislative Research Commission is authorized to study issues related to data collection by the Department of Public Instruction.  In the course of the study, the Commission shall examine and recommend (i) changes and improvements to the current methods of data collection and (ii) ways to standardize definitions and methodologies for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data.
The Commission shall report the results of its study to the 2004 Regular Session of the 2003 General Assembly.
SECTION 2.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.