Information Technology

ADE IT Wins Gold at 2017 IT World Awards

Originally posted on June 23, 2017

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) announced today that the Network Products Guide, Information Technology’s (IT’s) leading research and advisory guide, has named the Arizona Education Data Standards (AzEDS) the Gold Award Winner in the 12th Annual 2017 IT World Awards® in the category of Best IT Products and Services for Education. The awards from the Network Products Guide, which is comprised of industry and peer recognition, host the world’s premier IT awards ceremony for honoring achievement in all facets of the IT industry. Award recipients from throughout the world will be honored during the 2017 SV US Red Carpet Awards Ceremony and Dinner in San Francisco on Monday, June 26, 2017.

“It’s an honor to be named a Gold Award Winner by the esteemed IT World Awards®,” said Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas. “This recognition further illustrates how resourceful our ADE IT department has been in developing the state’s student data system. Our IT staff deserves the utmost support as they continue to develop and maintain award-winning products and services designed to support the schools and children of Arizona.”

The main objective in creating the AzEDS system was for data to drive instructional decisions by providing real-time feedback to educators. The development of AzEDS not only included the implementation of innovative technology, but it incorporated a complete business process reengineering that no other state has been able to duplicate.

“This project’s success is proof that ADE has created a new business model for education,” stated ADE Chief Information Officer Satish Pattisapu. “We have also delivered on our promises to produce near real-time data, simplify reporting and improve data accuracy. This will not only allow Arizona to save money, but it will allow teachers and administrators to focus on how data can help improve student achievement, instead of worrying about whether or not it is accurate.”

The AzEDS system has standardized the collecting, storing and managing of data, allowing schools to know their state aid payments almost instantaneously, as opposed to months later. It is estimated that AzEDS will save the state nearly $40 million annually in more accurate student counts.

To learn more about AzEDS and its benefits to Arizona, please visit www.azed.gov/aelas/azeds/.

ADE Announces New ADE Chief Information Officer

The Arizona Department of Education welcomes new Chief Information Officer Satish Pattisapu, even as the agency is sad to lose outgoing CIO, Mark Masterson, as he leaves to pursue other opportunities. More details are available in the official press release.

October IT Directors Forum Presentation

Check out the PowerPoint slides that Arizona Department of Education CIO Mark Masterson presented at the first IT Directors Forum meeting at ADE on October 20, 2016.

ADE IT to Host First IT Directors Forum

In an effort to further collaborate with their stakeholders, the Arizona Department of Education IT division (ADE IT) is offering an opportunity to LEAs interested in moving the state forward technologically.

ADE IT is creating the Arizona Education IT Directors Forum, a series of meetings held throughout the year that will consist of IT directors and technology decision-makers from LEAs, as well as ADE IT personnel.

The objective of this forum is to foster a continuous relationship between LEAs and the state that would promote mentoring, collaboration and input on statewide initiatives, as well as create a channel for both upward and downward communication. The information for the first meeting is listed below:

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016

Time: 1-3 p.m.

Cost: Free

Where: Arizona Department of Education, 1535 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85007

Parking: Visitor parking is offered at ADE. There is also additional parking available across the street at Wesley Bolin park.

Guest Capacity: 281 guests (first-come, first-served)

Agenda Topics: Updates on ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), AzEDS (Arizona Education Data Standards) and the EducationSuperHighway (broadband access), ADE technologies (ADEConnect and AZDash), future endeavors, Q&A and LEA requests to the legislature (agenda subject to change).

Since ADE believes that receiving LEA input is vital to the state’s future development in education, ADE considers the attendance of LEAs for the first and last meeting of the school year as absolutely critical to the success of this council. Therefore, this meeting will not be webcasted.

However, the bi-monthly meetings in between these two may be conducted by teleconference.

Please register for this event by clicking here. Registration for the Arizona Education IT Directors Forum is also available through ADE’s Event Management System through ADEConnect. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to email [email protected]