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Social and Economic Sciences Research Center. PNAIRP September 2009 Holes in Student Clearinghouse Data Paul Stern Senior Research Manager Washington State University Social & Economic Sciences Research Center www.sesrc.wsu.edu/k12. SESRC: Background.
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Social and Economic Sciences Research Center PNAIRP September 2009 Holes in Student Clearinghouse Data Paul Stern Senior Research Manager Washington State University Social & Economic Sciences Research Center www.sesrc.wsu.edu/k12
SESRC: Background • SESRC is an independent research organization within Washington State University • We are the directors of the State’s High School Graduate Follow up Study and the College Enrollment Study • SESRC routinely matches data against the National Student Clearinghouse and with local sources to measure recent graduates’ post-secondary enrollments
Core Question: What do we know about the overall coverage of the data we get back from the National Student Clearinghouse?
Data • Study Population: The HS Class of 2006 • Enrollments reflect the period from July 2006-June 2007 • Matches were conducted by NSC and SBCTC on the same source data set
Differences by College Type
Some Causes for Mis-Match • Students in one system and not the other • Different matching protocols • FERPA blocks inconsistently applied
Types of Issues Matching Protocols Must Address(why this work isn’t easy) • Sandra Day O’Connor • Sandra Day O’Conner • Sandy O’Connor • Sandy O. Connor • S. Day Oconner • Cassandra D. O Conner
Types of Issues Matching Protocols Must Address(why this work isn’t easy) • Cathy Smith DOB: 1/1/1990 • Kate Smith DOB: 1/1/1990 • Kathy Smith DOB: 11/1/1991 • Kathryn Smith-Jones DOB: 1/2/1990 • Carrie Smith DOB: 1/1/1990
Types of Issues Matching Protocols Must Address(why this work isn’t easy) • Name changes • Initials as a first name • Typographical errors (esp. on DOB) • Nicknames (displacing the first name) • Spaces, Apostrophes, Hyphens • Junior, II, etc.
Cultural (and other) Challenges in Matching • Students with multiple first and last names • Students with both Asian and western names • Students where the last name is written first • Cultures where birthdates are meaningless (resulting in a lot of 1/1/YYYY birthdates • Twins with similar names and identical DOB
Thanks to Colleagues from the Following Colleges for Their Help • Columbia Basin College • Lower Columbia College • Clark College • Tacoma Community College • Everett Community College • Skagit Valley College • Washington State University • SBCTC
Summary of College ReportsCommon Reasons for Not Matching • Enrolled in GED and ESL programs • Penitentiary residents • Had not earned college credits • Name changes, spelling variations, nicknames, etc. • Most should have matched to NSC • A much smaller percent should have matched with local sources
Contact Information WSU-SESRC (360) 586-9292 To view WSU-SESRC research reports on education topics please see our website at: http://www.sesrc.wsu.edu/k12/