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BIA School Statistics Initiative
(SSI)
The Office of Indian Education Programs (OIEP)
is part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),
Department of the Interior (DOI). OIEP provides
school operation funds for 105 Tribally operated
schools and 82 Federally operated schools. In
1997, OIEP consolidated several IT initiatives
into one major program, Access Native America
(ANA), which includes the following distinct areas
of endeavor:
- Education Management (School Statistics Initiative
[SSI]) - Ultra Tech has assisted OIEP with the
acquisition and phased implementation at all
BIA schools of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)
product to provide an administration system
at schools, Education Line Office (EDLO) locations,
and the central office of OIEP. Ultra Tech completed
a requirements analysis to address the needs
of BIA schools for a common, integrated school
administration capability and the organizational
changes necessary to implement an agency-wide
solution for its geographically dispersed school
system. Ultra Tech then performed an alternatives
analysis of selected COTS software products,
to recommended the most advantageous and cost
effective solution. The school site analysis
and planning resulted in a phased implementation
approach for SSI, which Ultra Tech managed and
executed. The phased approach included: a Proof-Of-Concept
Model at four schools in which Ultra Tech purchased
the selected software; customization of the
product to meet requirements for unique Tribal
data elements and security; special reports
for Congress and DOE; end user training; implementation
of the system in the POC schools and an OIEP
central office. Ultra Tech designed and implemented
a full pilot program, including 12 additional
schools during 1999, and is now in the process
of finalizing with BIA the enterprise-level
planning, budgeting, and preparations for full
implementation of the system at all 187 BIA
schools.
- Education Network (EDNET) - Since January
1999, Ultra Tech has assisted OIEP in creating
the technical infrastructure necessary to implement
the new automated school administration system
over EDNET. These activities include, internal
cabling and establishment of LANs at BIA schools,
and the connection of all BIA schools to the
DOI Network (DOINET) and the Internet. Ultra Tech manages LAN designs and EDNET interfaces
to individual school requirements; does the
acquisition of the required hardware, software,
and communications components; subcontracts
with local vendors for installation; and inspects
and oversees LAN installations and acceptance.
To date, we have managed the cabling and configuration
of over 40 schools in preparation for full SSI
implementation.
- Program Management Support - Ultra Tech is
providing BIA on-site services for; enterprise-level
program planning and management, analysis, and
acquisition management to maintain consistency
in progress towards long-term objectives.
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