North Dakota announces BRIDGE, a new K-12 data system to enhance education management

North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction has announced the introduction of a new K-12 education data system known as BRIDGE. The name stands for "Building Reports Informing Data-driven Growth in Education."

The choice of the name BRIDGE signifies the system's mission to link various stakeholders such as schools, students, families, and policymakers with essential data. It aims to encourage student-centered growth by bridging the gap between data and decision-making, and reporting and impact. According to North Dakota officials, "BRIDGE symbolizes strong collaboration across NDDPI, schools, districts, and state and federal partners." It underlines a commitment to unite efforts that are informed by data to support every student.

The BRIDGE system will unify two older systems, PowerSchool and STARS, into a single upgraded platform. This transition is expected to remove redundancies, enhance processes, and improve the experience for educators, administrators, and families. The new system is anticipated to offer greater efficiency and accuracy in educational data management.

The Department is focusing on the K-12 Data Modernization project with the aim of transforming how education data is managed in North Dakota. Officials are looking forward to how this initiative will allow educators to prioritize the aspiration that "All students will graduate choice-ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful."

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