Project Teams
Specifically interested in student data privacy? Find out what the Community Project Teams are working on here >>
Global Project Teams
Data Model, Mapping & Migration (D3M)
The primary mission of the Data Model, Migration, & Mapping (D3M) Project Team is to design and document a SIF data model mapping that:
- Provides existing SIF adopters with a set of well-defined data conversions for upgrading their current products and/or integrations. These guidelines will strive to be straightforward, incremental (only one component at a time need be upgraded) and seamless (nothing breaks, and no functionality is lost at any step).
- Provides current SIF application and middleware developers with a set of documented programming practices to minimize the impact of interoperating successfully with partners conforming to other versions of the SIF data model.
Call Schedule: 4th Monday, monthly
Group page: https://www.a4l.org/group/D3M
Data Privacy
This Project Team will concentrate on end user (District and State) issues relating to student data privacy.
- It will investigate the impact of educational cloud service providers and determine what set of “common privacy policies” they must commit to in order to meet, or where necessary exceed, FERPA and local data privacy mandates.
- It will define a set of data privacy “best practices” and document how those can be specified and enforced in solutions based upon the SIF 3.0 architecture (i.e. investigate and document how SIF solutions which facilitate Service Interoperability can best be designed and deployed so as to maintain Data Privacy).
Call Schedule: 2nd Tuesday, monthly
Group page: https://www.a4l.org/group/DataPrivacy
Infrastructure
The international SIF Infrastructure Team will: Define, enhance and maintain the international infrastructure framework of the SIF Association/A4L Community; Document this framework in a separate volume of the SIF Specification that can be reused directly by all locales in the SIF releases they issue; Work with the local Technical Boards to evangelize and support the infrastructure framework to ensure it is accepted and leveraged effectively; Where applicable, foster a continuing dialog with other industrial standards organizations to facilitate harmonization at the infrastructure; Leverage new middleware technologies to allow the effective, reliable, and secure exchange of information over open networks in a platform-neutral manner; and Ensure the investments of existing SIF adopters by minimizing the effects of any breaking changes to the infrastructure framework.
Call Schedule: Every 2 weeks, Wednesday
Group page: https://www.a4l.org/group/Infrastructure
International Technical Board
The International Technical Board (ITB) is responsible for defining, maintaining, supporting and extending the framework technologies (including the infrastructure and global data model) for reuse and incorporation into the SIF Implementation Specifications produced by the various locales (United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, United States).
Call Schedule: Every 4 weeks, Thursday
Group page: https://www.a4l.org/group/ITB (elected members only)
Open Source Developers Network (OSDN)
The mission of the Open-Source Developers network is to: align resources amongst SIF adopters reducing effort; ensure an open-source structure that helps developers find resources based on their locale.; curate projects, such that the best are identified and promoted; promote co-operation amongst members and non-members; and make available resources to complete projects that benefit the contributor.
Call Schedule: Every 2 weeks, Thursday
Group page: https://www.a4l.org/group/OpenSourceDev
Australian Project Teams
AU Management Board (SIFAAMB)
The purpose of the A4L Community AU Management Board (SIFAAMB) is to manage and promote the A4L Community AU on behalf of both the National Schools Interoperability Program (NSIP) Steering Group and the international A4L Community.
Call Schedule: Quarterly
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/AUMB (elected members only)
AU Technical Board (DSWG)
The purpose of the AU Data Standards Working Group (DSWG) is to provide advice to the AU Management Board (SIFAAMB) on the continued development of the SIF Implementation Specification (Australia).
Call Schedule: Last Wednesday, monthly
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/AUTB (elected members only)
North American Project Teams
NA Management Board
The Local Management Board has the responsibility of directing and overseeing the local activities of the Corporation. The Local Management Board shall approve projects and programs for the benefit of the A4L Community U.S. Participants.
Call Schedule: 4th Monday, monthly
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/NAMB (elected members only)
NA Technical Board
The US Technical Board is responsible for defining, maintaining and modifying the SIF Implementation Specification (United States) to ensure that it meets the needs of the US education sector.
Call Schedule: 2nd & 4th Thursday, every month
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/NATB (elected members only)
CEDS Alignment
This group is open to all North American Community members to assist with ensuring the NA SIF Data Model Specifications (specifically Unity Specification) are fully aligned with CEDS.
Call Schedule: 1st & 3rd Thursday, every month
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/CEDS
Unity Adoption
This Project Team will focus on key areas including Unity Data Model, Unity Infrastructure, Technical Handbook, Implementation Considerations, Java, .Net, Use Cases, even Quality Control and Marketing options.
Call Schedule: 1st & 3rd Tuesday, every month
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/unityadoption
State Requests
The mission of this project team is to identify and close the gaps between data standards and the Unity Specification, as well as update the Unity Specification to best reflect the needs of states.
Call Schedule: Every 2 weeks, Mondays
Group page: https://www.A4L.org/group/StateRequests