Graduation, Dropout, Mobility Rates: Aggregate Data Privacy Guidelines

Overview

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the following data privacy guidelines are applied to publicly reported district and school level graduation/completion, dropout, and mobility/stability rates to maintain student data privacy. The methods for student data privacy include blurring of AYG cohort/membership base sizes with small populations, blurring AYG cohort/membership base sizes for subgroups with small populations, and top/bottom masking of rates. While complicated, these methods ensure student data is protected while providing transparent information regarding graduation/completion rates, dropout rates, and mobility/stability rates as much as possible.

Student Privacy Overview

Effective August 10, 2016, the Student Data Transparency and Security Act (PDF) (HB 16-1423; C.R.S.22-16-101 et seq.), brought statewide attention to Student Data Privacy. The purpose of this Law is to increase the transparency and security of all Student Personally Identifiable Information (Student PII) that the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and Local Education Providers (LEPs) collect and maintain. The Law aims to maximize trust in the use of student data in the elementary and secondary education system, by having vendors contracting with schools or educational agencies in Colorado contractually agree to comply with certain requirements if they are to collect information from students.

In addition to the Student Data Transparency and Security Act (HB 16-1423; C.R.S.22-16-101 et seq.), Colorado Schools and Parents also rely heavily upon the Privacy Guidance offered by FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act). FERPA, a Federal Law, was enacted by Congress in 1974 (November 19, 1974) to protect the privacy of students and their parents. The act is designed to ensure that students and parents of students may obtain access to the student's educational records and challenge the content or release of such records to third parties.

Data Privacy Guidelines

Graduation/Completion Rates

When the AYG Cohort Size (all students) is 15 or less, all subgroup information is shown as (-) and rates are masked at ≥ 90% and ≤ 10%.
When the AYG Cohort Size (all students) is 16-50, all subgroups are shown as '50 or less' and rates are masked at ≥ 98% and ≤ 2%.
When the AYG Cohort Size (all students) is 51 or greater the specific cohort size is reflected. Subgroups with a size of 0-50 students are shown as '50 or less' and subgroups with a size of 51 or greater are shown as the specific subgroup size when doing so does not directly disclose a complementary subgroup size of 50 or less. If a subgroup of 50 or less would be disclosed, the complementary larger subgroup will be shown as '51 or greater'. Rates are masked at ≥ 98% and ≤ 2%.

Dropout Rates

When the 7-12 Membership Base (all students) is 15 or less, all subgroup information is shown as (-) and rates are masked at ≥ 90% and ≤ 10%.
When the 7-12 Membership Base (all students) is 16-200, all subgroups are shown as '200 or less' and rates are masked at ≥ 99.5% and ≤ 0.5%.
When the 7-12 Membership Base (all students) is 201 or greater the specific membership base size is reflected. Subgroups with a size of 0-200 students are shown as '200 or less' and subgroups with a size of 2011 or greater are shown as the specific subgroup size when doing so does not directly disclose a complementary subgroup size of 200 or less. If a subgroup of 200 or less would be disclosed, the complementary larger subgroup will be shown as '2011 or greater'. Rates are masked at ≥ 99.5% and ≤ 0.5%.

Mobility/Stability Rates

When the K-12 Membership Base (all students) is 15 or less, all subgroup information is shown as (-) and rates are masked at ≥ 90% and ≤ 10%.
When the K-12 Membership Base (all students) is 16-50, all subgroups are shown as '50 or less' and rates are masked at ≥ 98% and ≤ 2%.
When the K-12 Membership Base (all students) is 51 or greater the specific membership base size is reflected. Subgroups with a size of 0-50 students are shown as '50 or less' and subgroups with a size of 51 or greater are shown as the specific subgroup size when doing so does not directly disclose a complementary subgroup size of 50 or less. If a subgroup of 50 or less would be disclosed, the complementary larger subgroup will be shown as '51 or greater'. Rates are masked at ≥ 98% and ≤ 2%.

Printable Aggregate Data Privacy Guidelines (PDF)

Sample Datasets

For additional information, contact Reagan Ward, ward_r@cde.state.co.us

For data requests, please see CDE's Data Request page