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District Cans Contractor for Student Database Delays

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The District has fired the contractor charged with creating a database of critical student information. The contractor chosen by the District to develop the information system, hasn't. At least not on time. Mayor Adrian Fenty says the city terminated the contract of Williams Adley and Company for missing multiple deadlines. "You never want problems like this to happen, but we're on top of it. We're getting a new contractor and we should have everything ready for next school year."

The Statewide Longitudinal Education Data Warehouse, or SLED, will - one day - be a database that links all kinds of information on the District's students: Standardized test scores, grades, immunization records, whether they get free or reduced lunches, and information about their teachers. The idea is that more information and better tracking will help the District close achievement gaps and address student needs.

The city says the contracting problems have delayed the project by about 9 months.

Sabri Ben-Achour reports...

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