Data proposals need to have agency sponsorship prior to approval. Due to limited RSS resources, all requests will be reviewed by appropriate agency leadership to determine if the research proposal supports current district initiatives. Please contact Jacquie Tinsley for questions about your data request. Please understand that RSS primary purpose is to support student learning and achievement. Data requests outside this scope can only be accommodated as resources are available.  If a data request is approved, it will be filled based upon a RSS priority list that may not be in accord with the requester’s timeline.

If the data request is approved, all data requesters must adhere to the following requirements

• Requester must be responsible for the information obtained—for using it appropriately, and only for authorized purposes.
• Requester must not use the data for any other purpose or research other than the specific purpose stated in this request.
• Requester must agree to comply with the provisions of the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Confidentiality agreements are required for all personnel who have access to the requested data.
• If the requester deliberately or accidentally misuses the obtained information, the requester may lose access to data, and/or face dismissal or prosecution under the scope of all applicable federal and state laws.
• The requester may not share data and information provided by RSS with any other entity without prior written approval from RSS.
• Data from RSS must not be taken outside the United States.
• Results will not be displayed or distributed in a breakdown by student group where the number of students in the group is too small (fewer than five). In any group where the percentage of students is greater than 95% or less than 5%, the actual values may not be displayed because of federal privacy regulations (FERPA). (DMG-2009-004-SE)

A substantial amount of North Carolina's aggregate education data is available on the NC DPI website. Prior to requesting data, please check the reports and data listed in the menu on the right side of this page and posted at these links:

• State Data Sources
  • Child Nutrition
  • Economically Disadvantaged
  • EDDIE
  • Statistical Profile
  • Testing Results

• External Data Sources
  • Historic Student Performance Data
  • Education Commission of the States
  • Kids Count
  • National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP)
  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • U.S. Census Bureau
  • U.S. Department of Education

Student-level data is private information protected by both federal and state laws. The student information available through the district, is by federal and state law, confidential and shall be used only for authorized purposes. Under no circumstances shall records and reports be released by the district to any party unless such release is in strict accordance with the provisions of, and to the entities identified in, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 C.F.R Part 99. Individuals and organizations that receive data through the research request process have strict obligations to protect that data and must meet the requirements of both federal and state laws in their usage and handling of that data. The parties receiving this data have separate obligations based on these provisions and must protect the confidentiality and privacy of this information and may not disclose this information to others.  The information released by the district may only be used for the purposes identified in the approved research request application. Deliberate or accidental misuse or disclosure of information may result in loss of access, disciplinary action, dismissal, and/or prosecution under the scope of all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.