The Data SGP package provides an efficient method of organizing longitudinal (time dependent) student assessment data into statistical growth plots. It offers two formats commonly used to represent such data – WIDE and LONG; in WIDE format each case/row represents one student while columns represent variables associated with them at various times; LONG spreads time dependent variables across multiple rows per student. When installing SGP it includes sample WIDE and LONG data sets (sgpData_WIDE and sgpData_LONG) which will assist when setting up your own data sets.
The data sgp package’s primary function is to assist teachers and families with producing student growth percentile reports for individual students based on their performance in various content areas over time. Teachers can then use these reports to showcase progress while tailoring instruction according to individual needs.
Data SGP package also provides functions for creating teacher level summaries that can be grouped and sorted based on classroom or grade levels, or any grouping parameter supported by these functions. Once produced, this information can then be exported into other software applications to create additional reports or visualizations.
At Data SGP Package we have taken great pains to create an intuitive user experience with the SGP package. Most analyses can be completed in two steps; data preparation followed by running SGP calculations. Any issues experienced when using the package usually relate back to data preparation issues.
Preparing data properly is critical to the success of SGP analyses, which is why we suggest reviewing our vignette on data SGP for further instructions.
Once data preparation has been accomplished successfully, most SGP analyses become relatively effortless. Any issues during analysis usually have their origin in improper data preparation – which is why we prioritize emphasizing its importance before conducting any analyses.
For most SGP analyses, starting off with the data set sgpData is a good place to begin. This anonymized set contains five years of vertically scaled annual assessment data in WIDE format – ideal for use with lower level SGP functions such as studentGrowthPercentiles or studentGrowthProjections.
Additionally to student data, SGP Data contains an educator look up table (sgpData_INSTRUCTOR_NUMBER), which allows for the creation of teacher level summary statistics. This feature of the package allows users to quickly identify teachers who may be experiencing difficulty with certain topics or areas of need.
We hope these new sections on sgpData and sgpData_INSTRUCTOR_NUMBER will help you better understand these features, their applications and uses. Should any questions arise please reach out!