Glossary of terms used on this site

Collection that accounts for data including discipline and security staff information (Discipline Domain)

A unique identifier assigned by the Commonwealth to a school entity which does not always equate to a physical structure.  A school may be housed in one or more buildings, or two or more schools may also be in one building.

A child of school age who is residing with a resident of a school district and such resident is supporting the child gratis, as if the child were his/her own; such resident intends to keep and support the child continuously and not merely through the school term.

A nonresident child who is placed in the home of a resident of the school district (foster home) by order of court or by arrangement with an association, agency or institution having the care of neglected and dependent children and such resident is compensated for keeping the child. The parent or guardian of such child resides in a different school district than the school district in which the foster parent resides.

Student Information System

A software application, typically web-based, developed for and used by local education agencies to manage and export locally used and state-mandated student data.

State-wide Longitudinal Data System:

These systems are intended to enhance the ability of states to efficiently and accurately manage, analyze, and use education data, including individual student records. The SLDSs should help states, districts, schools, educators, and other stakeholders to make data-informed decisions to improve student learning and outcomes; as well as to facilitate research to increase student achievement and close achievement gaps.

Student Learning Objective:

A process to document a measure of educator effectiveness based on student achievement of content standards.

The given period of time in which records are preserved as submitted. Used by PDE to get a view of LEA data as of a specific date.

The original data file used by a local education agency to upload in the eScholar Data Manager (eDM).  This file typically comes from a student information system used by a local education agency.

School Performance Profile:

A web-based resource for districts/schools to communicate performance results to various constituencies and assist districts and schools in aligning and focusing resources for continuous improvement.

Includes the PA System of School Assessment (PSSA), its variations, PA Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) and Keystone End of Course Exams

Special population categories including but not limited to: Economically Disadvantaged, English Language Learner, migrant, special education