Project: ED selected SEI to enhance its capacity, knowledge, and skills of state education agency and local education agency personnel by planning and implementing strategies that align with ED policies, and spur the use of best practices and strategies to achieve SASA’s core results.

Technologies: The database system will be created using ASP.NET, C#, SQL Server 2008, and IIS 7.0 in a Windows Server 2008 environment. SEI staff will build the Web portal for both UNIX and SQL servers using .NET 3.5, Web 2.0 application development in interactive Adobe Flash and ColdFusion 9.1.

SEI's Approach: SEI is designing online training modules for new and veteran Title III State Directors, who guide and monitor the implementation of language instruction for limited English proficient and immigrant students. The modules will contain visual illustrations, examples, and problem-based scenarios to show practical applications in real-world contexts; a minimum of theoretical information; opportunities to formulate relevant action items; and job-embedded tools to support follow-through. Supplemental resources will include an indexed and searchable Director’s Handbook, with links to relevant resources, a glossary, and annotated links to relevant webinars produced by ED. SEI will also be creating online databases of subject matter experts for SASA activities, providing logistical support for consultants who conduct ED monitoring visits, and managing efficient, cost-effective peer review and grant competitions.

Project: The Training and Technical Assistance Center provides information and assistance to grantees and others who are planning or implementing Promise Neighborhoods. This signature program of the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative puts education at the center of community-led efforts to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Partners: Promise Neighborhoods collaborating agencies include the U.S. Departments of Education (ED), Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Treasury, and Health and Human Services. Dr. Sherri Lauver is the subcontractor lead on this project in partnership with the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP).

Technologies: SEI designed and developed the Web portal using Drupal 7.2, PHP 5.2.7, Apache2.2, and MySQL 5.6. SEI followed a SDLC process and uses WinCVS for version control and the SEI Bug Tracker for tracking application changes.

SEI's Approach: SEI’s team of interactive designers, information architects, software programmers, and content strategists are designing a Web portal for communities planning or implementing a Promise Neighborhood. SEI will host this “ed.gov” website; ensure that it is fully 508-compliant; and identify and create content—resource library, newsletter, blog, webinar announcements, and promising practice guides. Staff will plan and execute conferences and regional meetings; conceptualize, write, and edit a variety of resources, such as materials for the annual project director’s conference; and arrange events that enable neighborhoods to build community capacity and implement powerful strategies. SEI staff also will assist CSSP with assessing grantees’ technical assistance and training needs through a tested needs assessment framework used to develop individual strategic plans for each site.

Project: MEPI asked SEI to develop a Web-based application to streamline their grant review and monitoring process, and allow tracking of grant information from submission of a proposal through closeout.

Technologies: The system was created using Microsoft (MS) .NET 3.5 technology and a MS SQL Server 2005 database. It is hosted on SEI's MS Server 2005 servers. All modules and Web tools are protected with role-based security and connections are encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer security. WinCVS is used for version control purposes and SEI Bug Tracker for tracking application changes and bug reporting.

SEI's Approach: SEI developed the e-Grants System to bring flexibility to MEPI's grant review and monitoring process. It is hosted on SEI's secure servers and allows organizations to apply for grants using an easy-to-use Web tool. Reporting and monitoring modules allow users to retrieve grant applications and track budgets and deliverables. This enterprise-level Web tool is designed to handle large volumes of applications and allows efficient tracking of grant information from proposal submission through closeout. It has increased the accuracy of review and monitoring and provides MEPI with a significant reduction in labor costs in processes associated with grants to projects that will strengthen and build emerging civil societies in Middle Eastern countries.

Project: NCES needed a Web-based tool that would provide access to information about school district resources developed and to enable users to directly access demographic and geographic data by school district.

Technologies: SEI's development servers are configured to mirror the NCES servers and the site is built using IIS 6.0 and ARC GIS Server suite 9.3. Programmers coded the site using .NET, Adobe Flex, Microsoft (MS) .NET 3.5, ActionScript and a MS SQL Server 2005 that incorporates the GeoDatabase. WinCVS is used for version control with SEI Bug Tracker to track changes and report bugs.

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SEI's Approach: SEI designed the interactive SDDS to create reports displaying detailed demographic data from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. SDDS gives analysts tools to make snapshot reports or fine-grained assessments of what works and where help is needed. SEI interpreted server statistics, designed and coded tables and indexes, and compressed geo-databases to guarantee consistency between text and visualizations. The system imports shapefiles to geo-databases and develops, converts, and integrates reports and other data into maps. SEI used U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey data integrated with Common Core of Data information on 879 U.S. school districts as a foundation. The site features an intuitive Web service that presents data in a dynamic geographical format on any Web browser.

Project: The 21st CCLC PDM provides training tools and development resources to more than 160,000 educators working to enrich learning opportunities through after school programs for students in low-performing schools across the country.

Technologies: SEI designed and developed a Web portal that received its Certification and Accreditation approval and has received a full Authorization to Operate from ED. The Web portal is built for both Unix and SQL servers using .NET 3.5, Web 2.0 application development in interactive Adobe Flash and ColdFusion 9.1. WinCVS is used for version control and the SEI Bug Tracker is used for tracking application changes and bug reporting.

SEI's Approach: SEI used a rigorous, research-based methodology to gather data from practitioners, state and local education agencies, and an expert panel to determine the professional development needs of grantees. Using this information, SEI developed standards, templates, and guidance for all deliverables. The You for Youth (Y4Y) Web portal contains easy-to-use e-learning courses, supportive coaching modules, targeted resources, and multimedia tools designed to facilitate interactions among 21st CCLC professionals. Five content-rich courses help practitioners use innovative, engaging activities that differ from school-day teaching. Each course contains high-quality videos to demonstrate the strategies and reflection tools for learners. Y4Y resources offer moderated discussion forums; opportunities to share knowledge, stories, and ideas; webinars on relevant topics; and a mapping tool to locate programs.

Project: ICE needed to respond to a Congressional mandate for a comprehensive evaluation of health care processes and the quality of services provided to detainees at ICE facilities. The evaluation identified health care deficiencies and their impacts and led to recommendations for modifying and aligning the health care standards with best practices for detention facilities.

SEI's Approach: SEI's Chief Medical Officer and Senior Evaluator conducted a crosswalk of the ICE medical standards and designed data collection instruments for conducting interviews and field site visits. A group of detention, immigration, and health care experts vetted the data collection instruments. A site visit protocol was developed and all site visitors were trained prior to being sent to 30 randomly selected sites. SEI developed tools to collect and provide information about quality of care provided in ICE detainee medical treatment facilities. SEI established a secure database to store information about each facility, including type, geographic location, number of detainees served, and detainee/health care provider ratio. The project led to recommendations to improve health care in education and training, personnel, facilities, resource support, and systemic changes.

Project: DoDEA needed a centralized Web-housed process to evaluate and improve programs that provide educational support for children in military families nationwide.

Technologies: SEI built the ETAC Web portal on Microsoft (MS) Windows 2003 Server platform with IIS 6.0 as the Web server. SEI developed this portal application using .NET 3.5. The database was developed using MS SQL Server 2003. WinCVS software is used for version control and the SEI Bug Tracker system is used to track changes, request modifications, and report bugs.

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SEI's Approach: SEI developed the ETAC Web portal that hosts grantee information representing 412 schools in 67 districts across 25 states. ETAC allows grantees and their evaluators to design, implement, and report evaluations that demonstrate outcomes and impact, improve educational programs, and increase the likelihood of positive student outcomes. Grantees submit quarterly and annual data regarding key performance indicators and specially-designed Web data collection instruments allow both SEI and DoDEA staff to retrieve and print reports on grantees' progress and budget status. SEI reviews the collected data and provides virtual and telephone assistance to grantees. SEI captures demographic and program-related information about grantee activities, budgets, and evaluation plans to assist in providing technical assistance.

Project: NIDDK selected SEI to support migration to a new SharePoint Web environment in order to help create a more efficient and inviting information-sharing environment for stakeholders and the scientific community by refreshing the image of the Web site, improving the navigational experience for all users, and efficiently updating online content. Following the successful start of this contract, NIDDK selected SEI to support a major new phase of enhancement and improvement of the NIDDK Web presence. SEI will organize health information, redesign information architecture, and conduct usability testing on existing and newly developed portions of the Institute's most frequently visited public Web sites.

SEI's Approach: Support includes management of document inventories and creation of templates, lists, and libraries within a collaborative workspace. It involves technical migration to a SharePoint 2010 environment and providing recommendations for document content functionality. Technical activities include design evaluation and the creation of wireframes. Staff help NIDDK develop migration planning activities and organize metadata lists for content migration. We are developing and validating user-friendly information architecture. Science writers and editors develop and update content on existing pages, including those geared toward researchers and scientists in the intramural and extramural programs.

Project: Members of the 21 APEC Human Resources Working Group require worldwide access to policy and research information through a high availability, secure, custom-built Web portal/Knowledge Bank (KB).

Technologies: The Wiki is hosted on an Apache 2.2 server and uses Mediawiki software on a PHP platform with custom JavaScript coding and a MySQL backend database. The KB is hosted on a Microsoft (MS) Internet Information Services 6.0 server using Visual Basic .NET and an MS SQL Server 2005 database. Server statistics are compiled using WebLogExpert and Google Webmaster Tools.

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SEI's Approach: ED selected SEI to develop and design a user-friendly platform for storing and disseminating information for the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group. SEI used open source software for a custom Wiki Web site that includes a custom user interface and an editor that converts plain text to Wiki-formatted content. These enhancements make it simple for APEC to disseminate information and for members to communicate and contribute material. Content includes research articles, videos, and flash-based tutorials on topics of interest. The associated KB houses resources including PDF files, text documents, and Web links that are accessible through the Wiki or via a custom search function. The Wiki and KB are updated regularly by ED, SEI staff, and authorized contributors.

Project: NCES relies on SEI to provide data quality control and related technical support for two surveys on school crime. The School Survey on Crime and Safety solicits key information from school principals about crime incidence and response in their schools, as well as about school safety plans; community involvement; and student-, school- and community-level context variables associated with crime and safety. The School Crime Supplement accompanies the National Crime Victimization Survey and asks students about their perceptions of crime incidents, school safety, bullying and other related school safety factors.

View the School Survey on Crime and Safety.

View the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey.

SEI's Approach: The SEI team collaborates with NCES, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics in using data—including restricted use data—to provide quality assurance and analyses that inform and advance policy. We identify analysis errors and options, reexamine assumptions, and develop innovative data quality control solutions. We maintain thorough substantiation of all programming code, including documentation used for database review and all analytic procedures. SEI developed program code to produce tables using current data and based on NCES Statistical Standards and Tabular Guidelines. We also develop processes for a cognitive laboratory to test new survey items; draft interview procedures and use the data collected to recommend changes to the SCS survey items; conduct Technical Review Panels; and perform various resource development tasks.

Project: ED asked SEI to design and carry out a literature review leading to development of a program implementation and evaluation guide on LIEPs for education practitioners. The guide is a practical tool for improving the outcome of English-learning programs based on promising practices and common challenges identified during site visits.

SEI's Approach: Content experts and researchers began by conducting a review of the relevant literature. Using the research, they began designing and carrying out case studies of promising schools within 23 districts in 10 states. SEI designed key informant interview protocols for state and school district administrators, Title III coordinators, teachers, families, community based organizations to identify characteristics that influence the quality of K-12 English learning programs. SEI refined the survey instrument and carried out an Office of Management and Budget-approved survey to collect the case study data. The survey included (a) structured interview or focus group protocols to be administered; and (b) an observation instrument to capture data on specific school-based activities and practices that represent features of well-designed and implemented LIEPs.

Project: ED wants to ensure afterschool practitioners have the information necessary to build high-quality programs for young students with a wide range of learning characteristics. ED selected SEI to assess the quality of care in 21st CCLC programs that involve pre-K and kindergarten students; determine the characteristics of programs that provide higher quality care, and the best practices they share; determine the characteristics of programs that provide lower quality care, and their major issues and challenges; identify the resources needed by 21st CCLC programs to improve quality; articulate what state coordinators and program directors need to know to support quality program improvements; and prepare a best practices guide for dissemination in the afterschool field.

SEI's Approach: SEI obtained Office of Management and Budget and Institutional Review Board clearance for interviews and onsite observations conducted using reliable, valid instruments: the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System tool. SEI used the evaluation data obtained to compile guidance materials and strategies, including an evaluation report outlining site effectiveness and efficiency and detailing best practices and specific strategies that can be used across the field. Topics include student outcomes, support services, teacher qualifications, assessment practices, and costs for developing programs and/or activities for the target group. Study findings identified during site visits were used to compile a report for grantees to use in developing quality afterschool activities for young children.

Project: NASMHPD selected SEI to redesign their Web site, which is home to the only member organization representing state executives responsible for the $36.7 billion public mental health service delivery system serving 6.8 million people annually in all 50 states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia. NASMHPD operates under a cooperative agreement with the National Governors Association.

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SEI's Approach: SEI's digital communications team worked directly with NASMHPD staff members to conduct a needs assessment and redesign plan. NASMHPD wanted to redesign their public-facing site to streamline their resources and remove duplication, all while focusing more on the user experience. Information architects used their expertise to design the best interface to manage NASMHPD's large collection of publications, webinars, and meeting presentations, which account for more than half of the site's overall content. Designers streamlined the information architecture of the site to reorganize the content and create a more intuitive navigation structure for the site's users/visitors. The site's newly added "What's New" section features recently released NASMHPD publications and other relevant events in the news.