Building a Research Gateway: Advancing Education Policy with NCERDC Data.
Timeline
This project focuses on developing an interactive web interface for the North Carolina Education Research Data Center (NCERDC) at Duke. The NCERDC manages extensive administrative data from North Carolina public schools, used to advance education policy research. Inspired by the IPUMS USA system—a platform that simplifies access to U.S. census and ACS microdata—this tool will enable researchers to explore variable documentation, view years of availability, draw samples, and perform statistical power tests before submitting an application for access. Similar to IPUMS USA, the interface will feature detailed variable descriptions, customizable data exploration, and user-friendly navigation, making complex datasets accessible to users without advanced technical expertise. The platform will not provide direct data access but will serve as a vital resource for researchers to understand the data and prepare for analysis. Students will work with the Sanford School of Public Policy and other stakeholders to design and build the platform, gaining hands-on experience in web development, data visualization, and supporting impactful research in education policy.
2025