State of Vermont
Agency of Education
Data Collection and Reporting Knowledge Base
Data Collection and Reporting Knowledge Base
Post-Program Placement data is required by Perkins V, and is also used to identify where students who attend CTE go after high school graduation. Strong and accurate post-program placement data not only is included in Vermont’s federal reporting, it informs Vermont’s work to strengthen CTE programs of study and to recognize and share student success.
Please plan to collect post-program placement data for students who attended CTE and graduated High School. A post-program placement survey will be sent to each center in the Fall. Using SY 2023 as an example, the survey will include:
As soon as the data has been entered for the October 15 Enrollment:
Criteria for FTE calculations are determined by State Board Rules 2382 & 2389. FTE is calculated on the basis of one FTE equaling an average of 240 minutes of enrollment each day per week, and no student is counted as enrolled as more than one FTE. FTE calculations include:
Work-Based Learning placement minutes can be included in/added to instruction time (see Sem 1 Minutes and Sem 2 Minutes sections) except for Job shadowing experiences which cannot be counted towards minutes/instruction time.
Career Work Experience (CWE), Cooperative Technical Education (CTE), Student Apprenticeships (SA), and Registered Apprenticeships (RA) can all count towards instruction time, if the following criteria are met.
The Main Menu appears when the Access Database if opened. If the Splash Screen is still showing, look for a Security Warning bar near the top of your screen. Set your database up so it is automatically enabled or click on the Options button and choose Enable this content. Then the menu will display.
Choose an item by clicking once on the square next to it. The first four items open forms for data entry, the other four items open sub-menus that allow you more choices.
From the Main Menu, you will be able to choose forms to display or enter and edit data on students, staff, & programs.
You can use Edit Find or Control + F to locate any entry in a table. Delete a record by clicking on the square to the left of it and then hit your delete key.
The Student View table is where information about individual students is entered. It can be accessed by selecting Edit Student Info in the Main Menu.
You will notice some color coding in the tables that may be helpful:
(20 characters wide) Check spelling and capital letters. Spaces and hyphens are OK but there is only room for 20 characters. This is the name the student goes by while attending courses the CTE center.
(1 character wide) One capital letter; Access automatically enters the typed letter as a capital. This is for a secondary name given to an individual at birth, baptism etc. Never attach the middle initial to the First Name field.
(20 characters wide) Check spelling and capital letters. Spaces and hyphens are OK but there is only room for 20 characters. This is the name borne in common by members of a family. Do not attach a suffix (Jr, III etc.) or any extraneous characters. Adding extra characters makes automatically locating a student by last name more difficult.
Legal Name – If a student has a preferred name that is different than their legal or given name, enter their preferred name in the First Name field, and their legal or given name in the Legal Name field. If a student’s preferred name is the same as their legal name, only use the First Name field and leave the Legal Name field blank.
This field is especially useful for students who are transgender and will help ensure CTE student data matches with AOE data.
Note: To avoid accidentally entering the same student more than once, check for duplicates. It helps to keep students’ last names in alphabetic order, but first names may not necessarily display in alphabetical order.
This is also a required field. Report the month, day, and year on which an individual was born. Date format looks like this: //__ type 6 digits (011599) and Access puts the slashes in. The date will be displayed with the full year, e.g. 01/15/1999.
Enter the student’s self-identified gender: “M”, for male, “F” for female, “NB” for nonbinary, “TF” for transgender female, or “TM” for transgender male. Access will display gender codes in upper case regardless of how they are entered. This is also a required field; you cannot enter a student record without it.
Gender is used to identify whether the student is enrolled in a program that is non-traditional for their gender (defined as programs where less than 25% of the labor force in that category is male or female) as well as to identify equity gaps that may exist for CTE students.
The Grade Level field is for students enrolled in high school only (grades 9, 10, 11, or 12). Please enter the student’s current grade as defined by the home high school and verify it with their sending school at the beginning of the year to avoid a crunch at the end of the year.
For Home Study students, enter the grade the student "would" be in if attending High School.
For the purposes of this database, there is no “Grade 13”. If a student has a diploma, leave the grade blank and use one of the “Adult with Diploma” categories in the Student Pop field.
There are two fields for Student Pop: One for the student’s status on October 15 and the other for March 15. This is a required field. Use the pull-down list to choose:
Student Experiencing Homelessness are individuals as described in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 USC 11434a), which defines homeless children and youths as follows:
It is imperative that we have accurate data to reflect the number of students who are experiencing homelessness. To do this, each center will need to establish a process to coordinate with the McKinney-Vento coordinators for each of the sending high schools/sending districts/supervisory unions. If a student is experiencing homelessness at any point in the year, they should be counted in the database. In addition, CTE teachers and staff also know when students are facing housing insecurity. Each center should develop processes to ensure staff report this information to a designated staff member (director, school counseling/guidance coordinator) who can then share it with the sending district’s McKinney-Vento coordinator and the Database Coordinator.
Defined as “youth who are in, or have aged our of, the foster care system.” The Agency of Education is working on a data sharing agreement that would help us link directly to the agencies that work with the foster care system. Until then, this data will have to come from the student’s sending school.
Defined as “youth with a parent who is a member of the armed forces and is on active duty.” The Department of Defense is reluctant to release information of the families of military service members, so there may never be a direct source for this data, but this is still a required data field. It is recommended that this be gathered from a voluntary student survey that would ask if the student has a parent who is serving in active duty of the armed forces.
Students who are taking Dual Enrollment or Fast Forward classes will have their data captured by the Agency’s Dual Enrollment database, so there is no need for you to enter this data. The dual enrollment section of the database will be used to track Early College students instead. Make sure to mark an Early College student on the Student View page as well.
The general racial or ethnic heritage category which most clearly reflects the individual’s recognition of his or her community or with which the individual most identifies. For federal reporting, AOE must use the 1997 OMB standards and definitions, the same as those of the official US census. The categories and definitions can be found below. This should be collected from the student directly, or from their sending school or school district/supervisory union. Check any that apply:
Enter a checkmark for “yes” if the student has an IEP.
Enter a checkmark for “yes” if a student has a 504 plan.
If the student meets the definition of migrant, enter a checkmark for “yes”. The term "migrant" means the child of a migratory agricultural worker, including migratory dairy workers, or migratory fishers, and who, in the preceding 36 months, in order to obtain or to accompany such parents or spouses to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work have [Reference - 34 CFR 200.81]
Enter a checkmark for “yes” if the individual has limited ability in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language, and
If the student is a single parent or is single and pregnant, enter a checkmark for “yes”.
Enter a checkmark for “yes” if the student is an adult who:
The term “economically disadvantaged” means individuals from economically disadvantaged families, including foster children. Enter a checkmark for “yes” if the family or individual is eligible for any of the following or meets the poverty definition of the US Department of Health and Human Services:
When a student exits secondary education, either by graduation or by leaving secondary education, record what their exit status is from the following options
If you know that a student is no longer enrolled in a public high school and is in the High School Completion Program (Act 176), choose the last item in the pull-down (Not enrolled in hs and in HSCP). Note: Some students in HSCP are still enrolled in high school. Those should be coded Continuing Secondary Ed.
A student with a GED but no diploma is still considered to be a secondary student.
Note: This data can also be entered from the Program Detail form.
Remember to check the or pencil icon at the beginning of the line to see which record is active. The information below will always pertain to that record.
Use the dropdown list to choose the Semester 1 Home High School. The home high schools that are common to each CTE center will show on top of the dropdown.
Note: It is very important that to find out this information and accurately enter the student’s enrollment status at the time of the count (October 15).
Town District of Residence (TOWN) is defined by Vermont Statute (Title 16 V.S.A., Section 1075). Briefly, the district of residence is the district where a student's parent(s) or legal guardian lives. If the student has parents or legal guardians that live in different towns and splits time between the multiple households, then it is up to the sending school and supervisory union to determine what the official town of residence is for that student for the purpose of billing. If the student is married or has reached the age of majority the district of residence is where the student resides. The town district of residence is fiscally responsible for its resident students.
Very important! Use the dropdown list to choose the Semester 1 Town of Residence. The towns that are common to each CTE Center will show on top of the list. If the student was not enrolled first semester (i.e. Sem 1 Minutes = 0), towns entered here will be ignored. If the town is not in Vermont, choose the most appropriate Out of State option (options include: Other State-MA, Other State-NH, Other State-NY, Other Out of State). If the student is a resident of a foreign country, use “Other Country-Canada” or “Other Out of Country”.
By default, this field will display the same school selected for Semester 1.
Note: It is very important that to find out this information and accurately enter the student’s enrollment status at the time of the count (March 15).
Town District of Residence (TOWN) Same as above, but for a snapshot date of March 15th instead of October 15th. Very important! By default, this field will display the same town selected for Semester 1. If the student is living in another town on March 15, use the dropdown list to choose the correct town.
Remember to check the or pencil icon at the beginning of the line to see which record is active. The information below will always pertain to that record.
Use the dropdown list to choose the correct program and site. Every student must have a program. The only programs that will be in the list are programs approved for your school. If a program offered at your school is not on the list contact AOE to have it added.
Vermont determines if a program is nontraditional for students of one gender based on a Nontraditional Crosswalk published by the U. S. Department of Education. The crosswalk is based on program CIP codes and corresponding labor market information.
A checkmark will automatically display here when the CIP code for a program that leads to occupations that are non-traditional to the student’s gender is entered. This field cannot be changed without changing either the program or the gender entered into the student’s record. If The student’s gender was entered incorrectly, first correct the student’s gender on the student’s record and then re-select the student’s program(s) or the non-traditional designation will remain incorrect.
Vermont defines all nonbinary and transgender students as non-traditional, if the program they enroll in is nontraditional for one gender.
Required. Enter the number of daily minutes of approved technical programming instruction the student is receiving in the selected program for semester 1. If nothing is in the Semester 2 Minutes field (if it’s 0), the minutes entered for Semester 1 populate into the Semester 2 Minutes field. This information can also be entered using the Program Detail form by clicking on the FTE List tab. See also the section on WBL Placement Minutes.
The FTE is automatically calculated for that program based on the minutes entered. This number is based on the Semester 1 Minutes. The capped FTE will never be greater than 1. Note: This information will also be displayed using the Program Detail form by clicking on the FTE List tab.
Required. By default, this field will display the same minutes entered for Semester 1. If the number of minutes is different on March 15, this filed will need to be change it manually. Enter 0 if the student is not in the program for Semester 2. This information can also be entered using the Program Detail form by clicking on the FTE List tab. See also the section on WBL Placement Minutes.
The FTE is automatically calculated for that program based on the minutes entered. This number is based on the Semester 2 Minutes. The capped FTE will never be greater than 1. Note: This information will also be displayed using the Program Detail form by clicking on the FTE List tab
The Program Detail form can be accessed by selecting Edit Program Detail from the Main Menu. This is where information on CTE participation is entered.
The data displayed here comes from the Staff Info form. To make a change to the staff displayed, open the Staff form by clicking on the Edit staff record or Start new staff record button.
All approved programs must have a licensed instructor. A person listed as an “Instructor” or “Instructor, Academics” must have a valid teacher’s license.
Students are populated into the Program Detail form from the Program information entered in the Student View form. The student record can be edited by clicking on the Open Student View Form button.
Required. A number must be here even if it is a zero. Enter or change the number of daily minutes of approved technical programming instruction the student is receiving in the program for semester 1. All students who are enrolled in approved CTE program or course of study can be counted. Any students whose only participation in CTE happens outside of an approved program (i.e., academic programs) should not be entered in the database. The database will automatically enter the same number of minutes in the Semester 2 Minutes field, but this can be changed manually if the student’s numbers differ from semester to semester. Be sure the student can legally be on the database per State Board Rule 2389 (The record of a student enrolled in a CTE program that is not Pre-Tech Foundational cannot be entered on the database if the Minutes of instruction are less than 80 unless waived by the State). Semester minutes can also be entered using the Student View form and clicking the Program tab. See also the section on WBL Placement Minutes.
Required. The capped FTE is automatically calculated for that program based on the minutes entered. The capped FTE will never be greater than 1. Note: This information will also be displayed using the Student View form by clicking on the Program tab.
Remember: FTEs can change only if you change the minutes
Required. A number must be here even if it is a zero. By default, this field will display the same minutes entered for Semester 1. If the number of minutes is different on March 15, change it manually. Enter 0 if the student is not in the program for Semester 2, a blank field will not be accepted. Be sure the student can legally be on the database per State Board Rule 2389 (The record of a student enrolled in a CTE program that is not Pre-Tech Foundational cannot be entered on the database if the Minutes of instruction are less than 80 unless waived by the State). Minutes can also be entered by using the Student View form and clicking the Program tab.
Required. The capped FTE is automatically calculated for that program based on the minutes entered. The capped FTE will never be greater than 1. Note: This information will also be displayed using the Student View form by clicking on the Program tab.
Remember: FTEs can change only if you change the minutes
This information feeds into the graduation “Event Rate”.
For all students at the end of the year, use the dropdown list to choose:
If a student is no longer enrolled in a public high school and is in the High School Completion Program (Act 176), select Not enrolled in HS and in HSCP. Note: Some students in HSCP are still enrolled in high school. Those should be coded Continuing secondary education.
Students in grade 12 are expected to graduate, so make sure that the grade has been entered correctly.
Note: You can also enter this data on the first tab of the Student View form.
As defined in state Board of Education rule 2383(2), a successful program completer is any student who has been judged competent in 90% of the core competencies/critical proficiencies in their program. A student does not have to be a “successful” completer in order to complete a program.
Select if student is a Concentrator. AOE also calculates concentrator status based on semester minutes after collection periods.
Use for entering Credential (IRC) Information
Required. The date that the student is awarded the credential.
Create a new record for every credential the student successfully earns in the current school year. If you do not see a credential listed in the dropdown contact AOE to have it approved and/or added to the list. For any student who earned a credential during the previous year make sure the IRC and date were entered in last year’s database.
Enter information for Work-based Learning experiences and Career Technical Student Organizations. Create a new record for as many experiences as the student completes.
The date the student begins the Work Based Learning experience.
The date that the student successfully completes the Work Based Learning experience.
The total number of hours the student participated in the Work Based Learning experience.
The location of the Work Based Learning experience.
Choose the appropriate Career Technical Student Organization. Create a new record if the student is a member of more than one CTSO. If a student is in NTHS and a CTSO, remember to enter both. “Student Council” is not considered a CTSO.
Most Dual Enrollment students will be captured by the Dual Enrollment data system, but Dual Enrollment courses offered by NH, ME, NY and other state college systems will need to be entered.
Note: This is being used only for students taking courses outside of the Dual Enrollment/Fast Forward Voucher system and students participating in Early College this year. If you have questions about postsecondary credits or need to add a course, please contact AOE.
The name of the college course from which the student will earn postsecondary credit. If the course is not listed contact AOE to have it added.
The number of postsecondary credits that the student earned on a transcript from that college. For certain courses, the number of credits may be 0.
The date the postsecondary credits were earned.
The source of funding for postsecondary credits.
The List of Programs table can be accessed by selecting See list of Programs or Staff Directory from the Main Menu. This table shows each program listed in alphabetic order. Press the Magnifying Glass button to open the Program Detail form for more detail about a program, such as instructors and students who are enrolled.
Data in these fields cannot be edited and is “grayed-out”.
The name of the site assigned to that program is displayed. A few centers have programs at more than one site.
The name the CTE Center uses for the program on the Course Update form sent in to the AOE at the beginning of the school year. Local program names display in alphabetic order. Local names may appear abbreviated in order to fit database reports’ 20 character limit.
This is the Federal code for a program (Classification of Instructional Programs).
The state level name for the program based on the CIP code.
This is the number of hours of instruction that a student usually takes in order to complete a program. This information has been pre-loaded based on previous information and is subject to change. Pre-tech courses are blank because they do not have completers.
The Staff View table can be accessed by selecting Edit Staff Info from the Main Menu.
The staff lists in the databases have been updated with information sent to AOE in the summer. Note: Be sure to verify all staff listed, and add the staff title and program.
AOE must maintain accurate information about all CTE Center staff. Centers are asked to provide staff information at the beginning of each school year and if there are staffing changes throughout the year, please update your staff list in the database and notify AOE.
Check over this information to see if it is accurate. Phone numbers and email addresses are important. Remember to delete or edit records that are erroneous before submitting the database to the State. License Name is the name the Staff person has on their State License.
Use the pull-down list to choose one or more titles for each staff member. The following are the definitions of the choices available.
Because staffing levels and responsibilities differ from center to center, it is not required that each of these positions are filled in the database, but if a center has one of the above positions it should be included.
If the staff member is an instructor or a paraeducator in a program, information about the program should display. To add a program, use the pull-down list. Competency List and Site will populate based on the Local Program Name selection.
DO NOT send any of these paper reports to the State.
Keep worksheets at the center along with additional documentation for monitoring purposes.
Worksheets are intended to help center staff collect the data that they put into the database. The Worksheets Menu can be selected from the Main Menu. Worksheets should be distributed to appropriate staff long before the deadlines for filing to the State. Use of these specific worksheets is optional but whatever means you use to collect data must be kept on record at the center and available for review from the AOE for monitoring purposes for 7 years after they are collected.
All worksheets list students by program and data collected from these worksheets can be entered into tabs of the Program Detail View form. Most of these worksheets include Pre-tech.
These reports give summaries of student data that are used for reporting.
This is a group of reports that don’t fit into other categories
Some of this has already been filled in but may be outdated or inaccurate. Review and make modifications where necessary. Run the Directory Page(s) Report to check over your center’s staff. All approved programs must have a licensed instructor. Be sure to enter the most recent date you validated the contents of the Staff View Form. * First Name * Last Name * License Name * Gender * DOB * Work Phone * Phone Extension * Fax number (if it is the same for everyone, it can be set as the default, call for help) * E-mail address (Important!) * Titles - Never call a staff person an “instructor” unless the instructor holds a valid teacher’s license. Use “Paraeducator” if the person does not hold an apprenticeship, level 1, or level 2 Vermont educator license or an emergency or provisional license. The title “Special Needs” is for licensed staff only. * Local Program Name (if instructor or if a program-specific paraeducator)
October 15 data goes into the next “Six Semester FTE Average” and it is essential that the minutes be entered accurately.
Data here is extremely important. Student Lists on the Program Detail will not work unless the student’s program is entered correctly on this form.
Send student lists to the superintendent by October 20
Review the data entered in October. Make any corrections now before sending this file.
March 15 data goes into the next “Six Semester FTE Average” and it is essential that the minutes be entered accurately.
Sometimes a student moves to a different town. Make sure the correct town and home high school is entered.
What if a student does not attend Semester 2 or did not attend Semester 1?
As long as the Semester Minutes are set to 0 for the correct semester, this is not a problem. As long as a “0” is in Semester minutes, the program will ignore whatever has been entered in those Home High School or Town of Residence fields for that semester.
What if I have to make changes on previously sent data?
No problem, go ahead and make the changes.
Send student lists to the superintendent by March 20
The data that needs to be entered here should be completed long before the June 30 “official” deadline. Get the data needed before the school year ends.
If you need to add a credential to the dropdowns, please notify AOE as soon as possible because it takes some time for an IRC to be approved.
Student information can be imported into the Access Database as long as the data is in the correct format and passes all data validation requirements. Entering in a "test" student into the database before exporting tblStudent is a simple way to create a import template file which shows the correct format for each field.