PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PUERTO RICO STATISTICS INSTITUTE AND FEDERAL ENTITY SHARE IDEAS TO IMPROVE THE COACH TRAINING PROJECT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 8, 2019 — Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Acting Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (Institute) participated in the first meetings this year of the Board of Directors of the Regional Educational Laboratory of the North East & Islands (REL‐NEI), an entity subsidized by the Federal Department of Education. Disdier, who has been a member of the Board of Directors of that organization for some years, reported that during the day, initiatives of great importance for the island were discussed, including Puerto Rico Data Coaches Training, an innovative project that is forming Coaches, within the Department of Education.

“This project is of great importance to the Department of Education because it is through these Coaches, barriers are being identified that may be impeding the development of a culture based on data and removing such barriers. During the meetings with REL‐NEI, we discussed options to continue improving this project,” Disdier explained.

The REL‐NEI's main objective is to carry out scientific research and training aimed at supporting education systems based on empirical evidence. The REL‐NEI translates this empirical evidence into public policy proposals and best practices in teaching and learning processes. REL‐NEI is one of 10 Regional Laboratories and is comprised of Puerto Rico, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Vermont.

Other topics that were addressed and discussed at the meetings were the development of the workforce at the preschool level, learning the English language, effective alternatives to traditional graduation processes, reducing chronic absenteeism, and geospatial analysis to understand barriers to teacher recruitment.

“The mission of the institute is not only to coordinate the production service of the statistics produced in Puerto Rico, but also to promote research capacity and unite academics, researchers and public officials to objectively support government management, in this case, the management of Puerto Rico's public education system. As the official institution in Puerto Rico for the promotion of a data culture, at the Institute we are available to provide our full support to these data coaches from the Department of Education,” explained Dr. Disdier.

Although researchers and academics from the Laboratory for Educational Research and Development (WestEd) and the Education Development Center (EDC) direct most of the research and projects, they work as a team and in collaboration with the governments of all the jurisdictions that make up the REL‐NEI. The Puerto Rico Department of Education and the Institute are an integral part of these efforts. During this and the coming years, the results of these investigations will be announced.

For more information about the REL‐NEI you can visit the following address: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/. For their part, they can access data and information at the Institute of Statistics through https://estadisticas.pr.gov/.

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Contact: Idia Martínez
Mobile phone: 787-603-3200
Email: imartinez@upfrontpr.net

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Statistics Institute and Department of Education announce agreement to improve quality and access to non-confidential school statistics

Puerto Rico Statistics Institute publishes Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025

The design took into account the opinion of employees in all sectors of the economy, employees of the Institute and the general public

September 28, 2022: Building on the achievements made in the previous Strategic Plan, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute published its Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025. In order to achieve a comprehensive plan aligned with the current needs of society, the opinion of users of the Institute's products and services, as well as the opinion of the general public, was taken into consideration. In addition, an internal analysis process was carried out using the SWOT methodology (strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats).

“Among the most revealing findings of the analysis, the need for more budget and human resources capable of updating statistics more frequently, improving our technological platforms and achieving fiscal and administrative autonomy for the Institute stand out. We converted this input into goals within our strategic plan to advance our mission of continuing to publish reliable and important statistics for citizens and expanding their reach and dissemination,” said the president of the Institute's Board of Directors, Dr. Javier Hernández.

The new Strategic Plan focuses on the following 10 goals:

• Maximize the participation and effectiveness of the Statistics Coordination Committee (CCE).
• Establish and strengthen projects aimed at “filling the various empty spaces” in the various economic, social, environmental and cultural statistics.
• Strengthen the management structure of statistical projects to expand the capacity to carry out statistical and oversight projects.
• Strengthen the administrative structure that allows the proper functioning of internal processes.
• Improve the capacity and quality of technology, information systems, and the Institute's portals.
• Improve public exposure, marketing and education about our products and services.
• Strengthen, expand and modernize the Academies and Workshops Program.
• Establish and strengthen alliances with the scientific community and non-governmental entities.
• Promote the strengthening of fiscal and administrative autonomy.
• Move the Institute's physical facilities to a larger infrastructure appropriate to current needs.

Regarding additional services that the Institute could offer, respondents suggested that specialized workshops and training, scientific advice, multisectoral collaboration and community research, among others, be provided.

“Although the Institute already offers some of these services, the survey results indicate that these efforts need to be maintained and strengthened. Hand in hand with that, we must strengthen the Institute's marketing to better publicize the services we offer,” concluded Disdier.

You can access the Strategic Plan at:

Strategic Plan Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico 2022-2025.pdf

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

To learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook accounts (@statistics.pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) and LinkedIn (Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics).

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