Expanding learning information system

(ELIS) is a comprehensive system of student-level and programmatic data to support Out of School Time (OST) and enrichment service providers throughout Dallas.

Measuring Our Impact

Dallas-based education nonprofits Big Thought and Dallas Afterschool have been awarded a grant from the Better Together Fund to work with SMU’s Center on Research and Evaluation (CORE) to assess the real impact and potential for collaboration among out of school time programs ranging from tutoring to summer camps.

How it works

Big Thought and Dallas Afterschool have collaborated with SMU to develop a secure data dashboard where providers can access both program data (i.e., AQuA quality data, 6DQ observation data, survey data, etc.) and de-identified and aggregate data about the students they serve. This eliminates the need for an evaluator or researcher to generate the individual reports that providers have typically received. The data that providers have access to will be the same, but the process will be more efficient and the interface more user-friendly.

The data dashboard will consolidate data across systems allowing providers involved with multiple initiatives (i.e. Dallas City of Learning and Student Outcomes Project) to access and view data in one location.

Sharing Insights

ELIS is structured to operate under Big Thought’s Dallas City of Learning project and data sharing agreements. This means that any provider wishing to access data must join and participate in Dallas City of Learning. Out of school time and enrichment service providers are the target audience for ELIS and hoped to be its primary users.

Improving OST Programs

Big Thought, Dallas Afterschool, and SMU CORE will work together to develop the infrastructure to help deliver what out of school time providers need to support continuous program improvements for their learning projects. The power of SMU computing will allow the partners to study multiple variables at the same time and use the information to benefit Dallas’ out of school time system at large.

With this data, organizations should be able to improve programming quality, guide professional development, plan targeted interventions, produce more impactful funding applications, drive advocacy efforts, and advance student outcomes.

Learn more about ELIS.

Learn more about ELIS.