From Compliance
to Innovation
NEDC is helping teachers and leaders across the state make informed decisions that strengthen literacy outcomes for every student.
Identifying Challenges, Designing Solutions
Across districts, valuable information is locked away in disconnected platforms, from student information systems to attendance trackers. Even within a single district, educators often have to log into multiple systems just to build a basic understanding of a student’s progress. We solved this by integrating systems into a unified platform, so educators can get a comprehensive view of student progress.
Data inconsistencies are a constant challenge. What one district calls “chronic absenteeism,” another might call “frequent tardies.” Assessment results are stored in varying formats, student identifiers aren’t standardized, and basic things like grade level codes differ from system to system. This makes it difficult to analyze data at scale or share meaningful insights between schools, ESUs, and Nebraska. Our standard data format offers a common language, so districts can reliably use data to spot trends or identify needs.
DATA
SILOS
INTEGRATED
SYSTEMS
INCONSISTENT
DATA
STANDARDIZED
DATA
Educators across Nebraska are often asked to make decisions without the right information. Reports are often outdated by the time they reach classrooms, and teachers lack the tools to translate numerical data into actionable insights quickly. By the time teachers get the data, the moment to act has passed; it’s like flying a plane using yesterday’s weather report. Our platform offers clear next steps for educators, cutting through the noise with insights they can act upon.
LACK OF ACCESS TO
REAL-TIME DATA
ACTIONABLE
INSIGHTS
Even with the right systems, many districts have limited staff capacity and technical expertise to manage them. IT teams are stretched thin, and most districts use legacy systems that don’t easily connect to modern platforms. Training educators to interpret data takes time and support, and ensuring data quality and privacy adds complexity. Thankfully, our system is built to grow alongside every district. Big or small, districts will find it a system that’s easy to manage given their capacity, and will scale with them as they evolve.
SCALABLE SYSTEM
BUILT TO SUPPORT
LIMITED STAFF
CAPACITY
Implementation Process
Key to our success and building buy-in was our mantra: This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re building something that will evolve and improve year after year, ensuring that Nebraska remains a leader in data-informed decision-making for years to come.
LAYING THE
FOUNDATION
Establishing core infrastructure and initial pilot programs
EXPANDING
CAPACITY
Scaling up operations and broadening regional coverage
FULL
INTEGRATION
Achieving statewide implementation and system-wide integration
CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT
Ongoing enhancements and sustainability initiatives
Evidence of Success
Case Study By Project Unicorn
The Nebraska Education Data Collaborative (NEDC) utilizes the Nebraska Department of Education’s ADVISER system, built on the Ed-Fi Data Standard, to provide educators with direct access to meaningful data. By connecting insights from classrooms, buildings, districts, and Education Service Units (ESU)—and back again—NEDC is helping teachers and leaders across the state make informed decisions that strengthen literacy outcomes for every student.