Students & Families Adult Education Adult & Community Learning Services
Adult and Community Learning Services

SMARTT Updates

By Donna Cornellier
dcornellier@doe.mass.edu
February 8, 2008

1. Cognos Updates
   There are several Cognos trainings scheduled in each SABES region, and we have currently added several new reports and reorganized several reports in the sections. Listed below are some of the additions and changes so hopefully you can attend one of the regional trainings to learn how to utilize all the new features in Cognos.

   1. A new section called "Favorite Reports" was added in the tab section on the homepage which lists favorite reports developed by the SABES technology coordinators that were requested by many users. These are found under in the general heading of "Workshops" and three general folders with reports were created --- Attendance, Demographics, and Goals. These reports can be modified and tailored for individual programs, and then saved in "My Folders".

   2. The reports in the "Standardized Reports" section have been reorganized and grouped under general headings. For example, the "Performance Standards Reports" section lists reports for three areas ---Community ALC, Corrections, and Even Start. The "Performance Reports" section lists four "Learning Gains" and three "Pre Post" reports. The "Specialty Areas" section lists several reports for seven specialty areas.

   3. The "Federal Reports" section has been reorganized into four areas: Archived (Years 2001 - 2005), FY06, FY07, and State Level (FY06 and FY07).

2. GED Data Matching
   The last GED data match with Oklahoma Scoring Service was completed on 2/1/08. One hundred fifty two records were matched for students who attended classes in FY08. One hundred thirty three students set the goal (87.5%) so the nineteen students (12.5%) who did not set the goal will not be included in the Federal Report. Remember that we cannot include in the Federal Report the achievement of any goal, if that goal was not set. Please meet with students on a regular basis to make sure goals are set and the dates set are entered into the system.

3. ABE Program Design Regional Trainings
   The following ABE Program Design Refresher trainings will be held in each region the end of April or early May. Some regions have scheduled the SMARTT Updates to immediately follow the refresher trainings that focus on Program Planning. Several people in the past have asked for more "hands-on" training in this area.

   The training schedule is listed below so you can set aside these dates and times. More information will be provided in the next month.

   Region	Program Design Refresher	SMARTT Update Focus: Program Planning
   NE	4/30    9:00 - 12:00	4/30    12:30 - 2:30
   Central	4/30    12:30-3:30	5/6    1:00 - 3:00
   Boston	5/1    9:30-12:30	5/1    1:30 - 3:30
   West	5/2    9:30-12:30	5/2    1:30 - 3:30
   Southeast	4/25    10:00 - 1:00	4/25    1:30 - 3:30

   
   

4. Professional Development Data Entry
   Please note ACLS is responsible for entering information for staff who attend ACLS sponsored professional development activities such as the New Directors Orientation and the "Integrated Curriculum Conference". SABES enters all information for those who attend SABES sponsored activities and programs enter all other activities that are not sponsored by ESE or SABES. General meetings such as staff meetings or the Annual Directors Meeting are not entered into the system. We have developed several professional development reports in Cognos that we are reviewing and hope to release soon. Programs have several options in SMARTT at the project and staff level to view professional development activities that were described in previous mailings.

5. ACLS Listservs
   Please make sure that correct e-mails are entered for all staff so that our ACLS updates reach appropriate staff. The e-mails for staff entered in SMARTT must be listed in the "work e-mail" field in the staff information section. These e-mails are used for the "Program Director" and "All Teacher/All Staff" listservs. The e-mail address for the CEO listserv is entered in the agency information screen.

   We currently have three ACLS listservs that are used for various purposes for different announcements to the field. The listservs are:

   ACLS Program Directors ---project and site coordinators
   ACLS Teacher/All Staff ---all staff entered in SMARTT
   ACLS CEO --- chief executive officers who are official signators of the grants such as Executive Director, Superintendent, College President, etc.

6. SMARTT Training Schedule   
   The updated training schedule is listed under the SMARTT System Information section on our ACLS website. Please make sure that appropriate staff attend the scheduled upcoming trainings. Notify your SABES regional office as soon as possible with future SMARTT/Cognos training needs so SABES can schedule appropriate trainings. For contact information, see http://www.sabes.org/staff.htm. To register for these and other trainings, please go to http://calendar.sabes.org/ and click on your region or contact the regional offices directly.