SAN JOSE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

I.

Title

Desegregation Student Data Programmer

II.

Definition

Under general supervision, creates, manipulates, and maintains data files dealing with
District assessment and accountability at a Macintosh or PC-type computer workstation;
maintains sets of District data dealing with student data in one or more sections of the
District data bases; prepares data files in spreadsheets and tables using standard computer
software applications for analysis and interpretation by senior administrative and certificated
staff; prepares data files for transfer to other computer work stations and to District data
bases via computer diskette and through District computer networks; uses video data input
terminals; uses software applications including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Works,
Pagemaker, MacDraw Pro (or an equivalent), and macro making software; requests
appropriate extracts of data for District, State and Federal reports and analysis; provides
appropriate extracts for other District personnel; requests major accountability reports
originating from various units of the Division of Educational Services and maintains files of
these reports as part of a District assessment and accountability information center for
purposes of long term monitoring and evaluation, particularly with regard to desegregation
of District schools and programs.

III.

Examples of Duties

Performs a wide range of clerical and analytical tasks necessary for development,
maintenance, and manipulation of Macintosh or PC-based data files on District assessment,
accountability and program evaluation. These files may contain data that are collected by
District staff and entered into databases or spreadsheets at a Macintosh or PC computer
work station, or they may include data which are downloaded from District data bases. The
data may include student scores on various tests administered by the district, student
enrollments in elementary and secondary schools and in secondary courses and course
sections, grades earned by students in specific courses, participation by students in extra-
curricular and co-curricular activities, and participation by parents and members of the
school community in programs or activities sponsored by the District. The Desegregation
Student Data Programmer may also assist in preparation of and distribution of surveys to
parents, members of the school community, students, and District staff and in the transfer
and coding of responses to the survey for optical scanning and computer processing.

Typically, the gathering, manipulation and reporting of data involve a great deal of
interaction with District staff at many levels of teaching and administration.
Thus, the ability to execute the duties of this position is dependent upon successful inter-
personal relationships and effective communication with a broad cross-section of District
staff. In addition, many of the data files may be sensitive or confidential and will require
considerable discretion when they are being used as sources of raw data or are being
processed into summary statistics to be used in District reports on assessment and
accountability, especially as these reports pertain to desegregation of District schools and
programs.

IV.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Desegregation Student Data Programmer works under general supervision and within a
frame-work of established procedures for collection, maintenance, manipulation and
reporting of District data. The staff member is expected to perform a variety of duties in

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handling raw data in electronic computer form or in hard copy, and in monitoring and
maintaining the accuracy of critical data with occasional instruction or assistance. Adequate
performance at this level requires a basic knowledge of District procedures, policies, and
current practices along with an ability to choose among a limited number of prescribed
alternatives in solving problems with collection of raw data, entry and basic processing of
data in Macintosh or PC-type spreadsheets or databases. The programmer is expected to
work productively according to pre-established schedules and guidelines in the absence of
specific or constant supervision. Employees in this class will have frequent contact with
school site personnel, information systems personnel including systems analysts, District
administrators and other staff, and representatives of public agencies carrying out the
development, maintenance, and Macintosh or PC-type computer processing or data files.
They will answer a variety of procedural questions, plan for future schedules or
developmental work and train other District personnel in carrying out technical requirements
of their job.

V.

Employment Standards

A.

Knowledge of:

Office methods and Macintosh or PC-type workstation;

Basic techniques for filing and archiving printed reports;

Effective telephone techniques;

Letter and report writing and ability to follow detailed specifications for
collection, maintenance, and basic processing of data at Macintosh or
type workstations;

PC-

Basic requirements for assessment, monitoring, and accountability, and
basic reports on desegregation of District schools and programs;

Accurate and effective English usage, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation,
spelling.

and

B.

Ability to:

Learn requirements of development, maintenance, basic processing and
reporting of data at a Macintosh or PC-type information work station;

Learn basic requirements for data that are needed to create and maintain a
system of indicators on quality, effectiveness, and equity in district schools,
services, and instructional programs;

Learn new methods and procedures in the use of Macintosh and PC-type
software applications such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Works,
Pagemaker, MacDraw Pro (or an equivalent), and macro making
software;

Perform a variety of difficult technical activities in the handling of data
files for assessment, accountability, and program evaluation;

Make arithmetical calculations and simple reports;

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Apply approved District methods, rules, regulations, policies, and State
laws in the process of effectively working with data on assessment, accountability,
and program evaluation;

Understand and carryout oral and written instructions;

Under supervision, draft and distribute memoranda for other personnel to use in
interpreting data on assessment and accountability and in monitoring the
desegregation of District schools and programs;

Work cooperatively with other district employees, representatives of
agencies, and the general public;

public

Type and enter data at a computer keyboard, operate equipment for optical
scanning, operate equipment for fax and photocopying, use software for access to
District E-mail, calendar services and assigned sections of the District's
student database, and for access to standard online databases via modem-based
services such as Internet.

Train other District personnel in development, monitoring, and basic
processing of data files for assessment, accountability, and program evaluation at a
Macintosh or PC-type work station.

C.

Education/Training/Experience

Completion of the equivalent of a high school diploma and two years of
technical, clerical experience working with data systems, including at least one year
of clerical experience in a high school, middle school, or District office using
Excel, Works, Pagemaker, and access through CORE to sections of the District's
database.

Date:February, 1994

Range:AFSCME/Range 25a

Position Code: