The Ed-Fi Data Standard

The Ed-Fi Data Standard is the set of rules for the collection, management, and organization of educational data. The Ed-Fi standards are built on a Unifying Data Model (UDM) that is CEDS-aligned and open-source. The model defines entities such as students, teachers, assessment results, and others. The Ed-Fi standards that are built using the UDM include:

  • Core Student API,
  • Ed-Fi Enrollment API,
  • Ed-Fi Assessment Outcomes API,
  • Ed-Fi Bulk Data Exchange for XML, and
  • Ed-Fi Standard Interchange Schema Bundle.

The most recent version of the Ed-Fi Standard is v4.0.0-a (as of August 31, 2022).

The Ed-Fi Operational Data Store/API

The Operational Data Store (ODS) allows users to pull information from several sources into a single database. This database operates through an API that allows applications to create, read, and update data. The currently supported versions of the Ed-Fi API are v3.3, v3.4, v3.4.1, v5.0.0, v5.0.1, v5.1.0, v5.2, and v5.3 (the latest).

Ed-Fi has also published a series of tools to support developers who implement their interoperability suite. These tools include:

  • MetaED IDE – helps developers create and align new data elements
  • Mapping EDU – online tool that maps data to specific learning standards
  • ODS/API Admin App – provides an administrative interface for the Ed-Fi ODS/API;
  • Ed-Fi Validations – helps users verify that data conforms to the Ed-Fi standard, and;
  • Ed-Fi Dashboard – provides a comprehensive and graphical view of the classroom for teachers and administrators.

The Ed-Fi Alliance Community

The Ed-Fi Alliance is made up of a community of various stakeholders in the EdTech space, including over 288 technology vendors, 32 state agencies, and nearly 11,900 school districts. Membership in the Ed-Fi alliance is free of charge and access to Ed-Fi technology is permitted by signing a free license agreement. Ed-Fi also partners with other educational agencies and organizations, such as Project Unicorn, Common Education Data Standards initiative (CEDS), and Project Nessie.

Read More on Data Standards

Here are other articles we’ve written on Data Standards to help you on your integration journey:

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