Meta Mapping

The need to store the State Core data dictionary and correlate it to each of the State’s data models as well as mapping Education based data specifications has resulted in a small yet flexible metadata model.  The State Core Metadata Repository allows for various organizations to map their data to the data of other organizations.  This means that once an organization has mapped to the State Core model, all other organizations are able to map to that source.  Ultimately, standardized reports will be created against the State Core model, providing states a method of generating all of their Federally mandated reporting without having to develop them.  Additionally, states and organizations can contribute their own reports for use by other states and organizations.  By creating a data lexicon for all education data, there is no need for separate organizations to recreate the wheel; collaboratively, all participants create one object that is reusable by all.

Terminology

• Jurisdiction – Represents States, governing bodies and other organizations
• Specification - A set of data; it can represent an XML specification, an SLDS, or any other structured data set
• Domain – An area of related data items that may be a subset of a Specification, or topically represent an entire Specification
• Entity – Represents a physical table within a data model, or a specific subset of a Domain
• Attribute – Represents the lowest level of a data element; a database field or XML element
• Option Set – Is a collection of possible values

Assumptions

• This model assumes that the following relationships are true:
• Jurisdictions contain one or more Specifications
• Specifications contain one or more Domains
• Domains are comprised of one or more Entities
• Entities are one or more Attributes
• Attributes may be mapped to other Attributes
• Attribute have values that may be constrained by Option Sets
• Option Sets contain one or more Values

What do you think of having a Metadata Repository for associating your data to other organizations and data specifications?  Are there topics that you feel the Repository should be expanded to include?