Please read this guide before getting started.
After reading, click here to apply for the certification.

COMPETENCY

The seamless, secure, and controlled exchange of usable data between applications is key to this product, resulting in data interoperability. At the core of interoperability is a focus on better informing instruction and driving student-centered learning experiences. There are 4 tiered badges available representing levels of interoperability, with tier 4 meeting the highest standard.

KEY METHOD

The product prioritizes data interoperability: the seamless, secure, and controlled exchange of usable data between applications. Interoperable tools operate with a product data dictionary, model, and infrastructure implementations that align with data standards in K-12 education (Ed-Fi, A4L, IMS Global, etc.). The Product Certification will enable district administrators to easily understand the benefits of investing in products that prioritize interoperability. At the core of interoperability is a focus on better informing instruction and driving student-centered learning experiences.

The product demonstrates a vested interest in and demonstrated application of interoperability in design. Products may be certified for data standards, compliant with data standards, or have plans in their roadmap to become interoperable.

What does it mean to be certified for data standards?

  • The Project Unicorn Standards Glossary V1 is a directory of the different standards in K-12 that make data interoperability possible. The glossary provides an overview of different standards, by identifying the type of standard it is along with the organization that built that standard, the domain/use case it covers, and a description of what the standard is able to do in terms of interoperability. Application submissions that align to standards are more trusted by school districts that are looking to implement data interoperability within their environment.

  • Earning the certification that is provided by one of these data standards signals to consumers that a product is truly interoperable. Certification b gives buyers the confidence that their educational data will flow seamlessly and securely between the different learning tools and applications in their ecosystem.

METHOD COMPONENTS

This Product Certification offers a nuanced, tiered signal to consumers. Applications will be ranked on their level of interoperability on a scale from 1 to 4, based on their level of interoperability as per the Project Unicorn Interoperability Rubric.

Interoperability Ranking from 1 to 4

  • Each question will be scored on this scale based on the response and artifacts, or evidence, provided. The total score will determine the Product Certification tier an application has earned.

  • Each submission will receive an Open Badge based on the final ranking, with Badge 1 being the least interoperable and Badge 4 being the most interoperable.

A product that earns Badge 4 provides evidence of interoperability through the following through a combination of the following:

  • High data quality and granularity

  • Seamless, real-time or near real-time import and export process

  • Standardized data format

  • Data protections via authorization, access, and proper encryption

Core Areas of Measurement

The assessment will contain questions about the following areas. Included with each category is an example of a feature that would earn Badge 4.

  • Data Quality: This demonstrates the product’s ability to identify students using unique numeric identifiers which are also used across other tools and applications.

  • Badge 4 Example: A unique SIS ID for each student.

  • Data Granularity: This demonstrates the product’s ability to provide different levels of granularity when school systems and/or consumers import and export data. The ability to import and export data at different levels of granularity provides schools with more flexibility and ease when conducting analyses. Levels of granularity may include district, school, section, teacher, and student.

  • Badge 4 Example: Importing rosters into an application by each of the granular levels of district, school, section, teacher, and student, with each level provided within one import/export.

  • Import and Export Process: This demonstrates the product’s ability to provide the ability to import/export data in a standardized way using industry aligned APIs and formats along with certification to appropriate industry standards (e.g. A4L, Ed-Fi, or IMS Global). This assures consumers that the product is truly interoperable and may work with other tools and products already in use.

  • Badge 4 Example: OneRoster certification in order to push and receive student rosters from different tools and applications.

  • Import and Export Security: This demonstrates the product’s ability to have procedural safeguards in place when importing and exporting data. This means that data will only be accessible by parties who need access to that data and access will be limited to only the minimum amount of data required by the permitted party. Data will also be encrypted at rest and in motion so that it can be protected and secured.

  • Badge 4 Example: The use of OAuth2 for clients accessing protected data.

  • Import and Export Format: The product will have data fields that align or map to industry standards utilising a proper standard format. (e.g. OneRoster, Ed-Fi, xPressRoster) and certification to industry standards (e.g. A4L, Ed-Fi, IMS).

  • Badge 4 Example: The product is OneRoster certified in order to push and receive student rosters from different tools and applications via an API.

  • Import and Export Frequency: The product can provide up-to-date data. When school systems and/or consumers have access to their data in real-time it gives them the ability to make quick decisions that help drive and impact student learning.

  • Badge 4 Example: Assessment scores are available to school teachers and administrators immediately after a class completes an assignment.

Product Certification Prerequisite

In order to apply for the Project Unicorn Interoperability Product Certification, the product must be a Project Unicorn EdTech Vendor Signatory.

  • If you are ready to sign the pledge, sign here!

  • If you would like to learn more about the pledge, check the resources above, the Project Unicorn website, and/or reach out to the team at projectunicorn@innovateedunyc.org.

  • If you are not sure if you have signed the pledge, you can view an up-to-date list of all pledge signatories at the bottom of this page.

SUPPORTING RATIONALE
& RESEARCH

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (2015). Teachers Know Best: Making Data Work for Teachers and Students. http://k12education.gatesfoundation.org/download/?Num=2335&filename=TeachersKnowBest-MakingDataWork.compressed.pdf

Digital Promise (2017). The State of Data Interoperability in Public Education. https://digitalpromise.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/DataInteroperability_Final.pdf

What Does It Take to Make Interoperability Work in K-12 Education?https://www.edsurge.com/research/guides/what-does-it-take-to-make-interoperability-work-in-k-12-education

Why Data Interoperability Is Critical for Districts—and How It Transforms Student Learning:https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-09-23-why-data-interoperability-is-critical-for-districts-and-how-it-transforms-student-learning

RESOURCES

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES &
EVALUATION CRITERIA

PART 1: Overview Questions (Provides Context)

Fill in Part 1 of the certification assessment here. This section will be used for informational purposes only and will not be included in the assessment of your application.

PART 2: Work Examples/Artifacts Evidence

 
 

Part 2 will be scored according to the point values on the Project Unicorn rubric, described below and available here.

  1. Download and fill in the Part 2 Template to complete this section of the assessment.

  2. Upload the completed Part 2 Template to the certification assessment, along with the required artifacts described in the template.

Please use a naming convention in your file names so that assessors can easily determine which question the applicant is verifying. (e.g. “Project Unicorn - 1a Verification”).

PART 2: Scoring Guide

The following guide represents how submissions will be assessed.

Evidence submitted will be reviewed to verify responses and award the point values stated in the Part 2 Template.

The final badge earned will be based on point totals from the assessment:

  • Level 4: 38+ points

  • Level 3: 31-37 points

  • Level 2: 24-30 points

  • Level 1: 0-24 points

The assessment scores are based on the Project Unicorn Rubric: