Written by Gienna Beara

Overview

The Chicago Early Childhood Integrated Data System (CECIDS) is transforming how the Center for Early Learning Funding Equity (CELFE) collaborates with program leaders to streamline the collection, standardization, and distribution of vital early childhood education data. By providing administrators, funders, advocates, and policymakers with reliable insights, CECIDS empowers data-driven decision-making for the benefit of Chicago’s youngest learners. Clarity is proud to partner with CELFE in developing a consolidated platform that bridges gaps between providers and eliminates isolated data silos. This unified approach simplifies access to critical information, enabling stakeholders to efficiently address pressing questions and drive impactful change across the city.

CECIDS brings greater visibility into the needs and experiences of children from birth through age five in Chicago. It addresses key technical challenges by conforming and consolidating the data through automated loading processes, creating consolidated recoding tables, and improving analytical and reporting performance through restructuring and indexing. By fostering streamlined connections between data-providing agencies and CELFE, and through tools like Power BI and Tableau dashboards, CECIDS enhances data-driven decision-making across the early childhood ecosystem.

As CELFE moved to build its own architecture within Azure GovCloud, the project has embraced iterative development and ongoing enhancements to ensure its capabilities continue to meet evolving needs.

Background & Vision

The CECIDS project emerged from a clear need for robust data architecture support. Extensive inventory analysis revealed opportunities to unify fragmented data sources and streamline processes. CELFE’s overarching goal is to provide Chicago communities with access to complete and accurate early childhood data, maximizing and equitably allocating resources to support the city’s children and families.

Features or Functional Capabilities

CECIDS includes several advanced features:

Enhanced Database Structure: Integrates data through extract, load & transform (ELT) processes into a unified system.
Automation and Workflows: Automated connections highlight discrepancies, such as inconsistencies in agency data.
User Experience Improvements: Delivers actionable insights, such as absentee rates for children in early childhood education (ECE).
Customizable Data Access: Power BI and Tableau enable stakeholders to interpret data through tailored and interactive dashboards.

These features empower users with comprehensive data analysis and visualization, allowing for improved resource allocation and informed decision-making.

Clarity’s Role in the CECIDS Project

Clarity provided comprehensive database and ELT process design and development services, utilizing Microsoft Azure SQL and Python as primary tools. The team collaborated closely with CELFE to:

Participate in ongoing detailed analysis of data structures and ELT processes.
Design and implement enhancements aligned with CELFE’s organizational objectives.
Conduct iterative feedback sessions, adjusting data and process designs as needed.
Oversee and manage the delivery of services to ensure alignment with project goals.

Additionally, Clarity provided report design & development services, leveraging Power BI & Tableau to design tailored reports. This involved:

Detailed analysis of data sources.
Iterative report design and development focused on key metrics and insights.
Close collaboration with CELFE business owners to manage and oversee report delivery.

Impact and Evolution

CECIDS has transformed early childhood data analysis in Chicago by beginning to answer pivotal questions:

How many children aged 0–5 live in each community area?
What children are eligible for publicly funded early childhood programs?
How do service levels vary by age and income?

Through improved standardization and automation, CECIDS addresses past inconsistencies and provides actionable insights. For instance, stakeholders now have access to accurate absenteeism data, driving better-informed decisions.

As the project evolves, Clarity continues to support CELFE by addressing challenges such as integrating legacy data, refining automation processes, and improving data accuracy. The team is also working on new initiatives, such as integrating Census data and creating a first-name alias database to differentiate records.

Collaborative Approach

CECIDS is a collaborative effort involving:

CELFE (Northern Illinois University): Facilitates discussions and drives project vision.
EC Reach (Northwestern University): Research partner providing academic expertise.
ECE Agencies (e.g., CPS, Head Start, DFSS): Data providers ensuring diverse inputs.

By leveraging the strengths of each partner, CECIDS integrates expertise and resources to address challenges and innovate solutions.

Looking Forward

CECIDS is poised for continued growth. Near-term goals include:

Delivering historical data from previous years.
Enhancing automation processes and updating dashboards.

Future initiatives aim to expand on automation, incorporate legacy scripting, and improve data precision to ensure CELFE and its partners can continually refine their approaches to early childhood education.

Clarity remains committed to guiding the technical trajectory of CECIDS, collaborating with CELFE and its partners to realize their vision for equitable and effective resource allocation in Chicago’s early childhood education system.

About Clarity Partners

Clarity Partners is a Chicago-based, full-service management and information technology consulting firm that specializes in delivering comprehensive solutions to complex public sector and non-profit challenges. We provide management consulting, enterprise performance management, application development, website design and development, cloud solutions, project management, and IT staffing services to a diverse mix of businesses across the full spectrum of industries.