The American Samoa Department of Education (ASDOE) selected Pearson and Choice Solutions Inc. (Choice) to design and implement a federally funded P-20 longitudinal data system (LDS). This project represents the first of its kind in the Pacific. The American Samoa Department of Education currently serves 21,326 students between the ages of 3 to 18 from public and private schools.
To improve education services for these students, the ASDOE invested in a series of separate information systems. The Pearson and Choice Longitudinal Data System will connect these systems—and the records within them—to create a single, accessible information source that aids in federal reporting efforts and provides actionable data to the hands of educational stakeholders.
Dr. Jacinta Galea’i, Director Designee of Education in American Samoa, said the Longitudinal Data System represents a new paradigm for the way we educate children in American Samoa. “The system allows us to address individual student needs, track student achievement, and have data-driven decision-making for our programs,” said Dr. Galea’i. “Additionally, we have an obligation to provide data to students, teachers and parents. The community will be able to see how our students are performing and we can hold schools accountable for their activities. It is an exciting time to be a part of education in American Samoa, and this system changes everything about how we manage our schools.”
This new Longitudinal Data System will incorporate a series of information technology products from the partnered organizations: Pearson will deliver PowerSchool SMS, Pearson Inform and ParentCONNECT; while Choice will install edFusion®. Combined Choice and Pearson have created P-20 Longitudinal Data Systems for 23 states. When complete, the Longitudinal Data System will enable aggregation, disaggregation, and analysis of American Samoa’s education information.
