Data Accountability Center

More About DAC

Mission

DAC’s mission is to support the submission and analysis of high-quality IDEA data by reviewing data collection and analysis and providing technical assistance to improve state capacity to meet data requirements. The Center’s mission includes assisting the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education by taking a leadership role in the Technical Assistance and Dissemination network to support the vision of high-quality data.

Activities

DAC assesses state, regional, and national needs related to data collection, analysis and reporting. This assessment includes needs related to monitoring data.

DAC delivers technical assistance to states using a range of methods. These methods include annual data meetings; telephone, email, and listserv communication; conference calls; workshops and sessions at regional and national meetings; and in-state consultation. DAC provides customized TA for individual states via all methods.

DAC develops technical assistance materials for states including, but not limited to, Q & A documents for specific data collections, data dictionaries, guidelines for collecting high quality data through the state monitoring processes, and online training modules.

All documents and data on this site are the most current available. States may resubmit data at any time for up to 5 years past the due date. Revised/updated documents and data are posted as available or at least on an annual basis. Due to the time needed for data processing and validation procedures, it takes up to 10 months from when states submit data to posting of the data for the first time on the site. Send any questions or comments about this site to the webmaster.