Longitudinal Data System
Definition: A data system capable of tracking student information over multiple years across multiple data sources. What This Means: Records for mobile students can be combined across schools, districts, even states. Progress of students can be tracked across test administrations, grade levels, ...
Longitudingal Data Store
Definition: A longitudinal data store holds data in a format optimized for linking records across years and across entities (e.g., schools, districts, etc.). What This Means: Not everything needs to be linked across years--or can be. Many processes do not need to ...
MAC Address
Definition: Media Access Control address. A unique number coded into a piece of networking equipment to identify it; used when connecting a computer to a network. Need another definition?
Machine Language
Definition: The language that computers can understand is entirely numerical. Programs written by humans must be translated by a computer into machine language before they can be used. Need another definition?
Magneto-Optical (MO) Drive
Definition: A type of disk drive that combines magnetic disk technologies with CD-ROM technologies. Need another definition?
MailID
Definition: The part of an email address before the @ symbol; usually the first and middle initial of a user's name, followed by the last name. The number of characters which can compose a MailID is unlimited. Need another definition?
Mainframe
Definition: Mainframe computers are enterprise-level machines that can manage multiple, large-scale processes simultaneously. What This Means: Mainframe computers in education agencies have largely been replaced by servers, typically multiple servers, for flexibility, cost savings, and software application operating system requirements. Mainframes continue ...
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
Definition: The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was authorized by Congress and initiated by APQC to recognize quality in American businesses. Education winners are now included. What This Means: Criteria include leadership; strategic planning; student, stakeholder, market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge ...
Malware
Definition: Short for malicious software, such as a virus or a Trojan horse, designed to damage or disrupt a system. Need another definition?
Mandate
Definition: The category of mandate is broad and includes any reason that data are collected or reported. What This Means: In the education world, mandates range from the official to the unofficial. Laws, policies, regulations, court orders, etc. can be very official, ...
