A family‑friendly glossary for families, caregivers, and community members
Education data can feel confusing, especially when reports use terms that aren’t part of everyday conversation. This glossary is designed to make those words easier to understand so you can feel confident exploring dashboards, talking with teachers, and supporting the students in your life.
Below you’ll find simple explanations of the most common terms you’ll see on Future Path Data.
Key Terms & What They Mean
Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism means a student misses 10% or more of the school year — whether the absences are excused or unexcused.
For most students, that’s about 18 days in a full year.
It matters because missing school regularly makes it harder to keep up academically and socially.
Capacity
Capacity refers to how many students or children a program can serve.
You’ll see this term most often in early childhood dashboards.
For example, if a childcare center has a capacity of 40, that means it can safely serve 40 children at a time.
Enrollment
Enrollment is the number of students currently attending a school, program, or college.
It helps show how many students are being served and whether programs are growing or shrinking.
Postsecondary Enrollment
Postsecondary enrollment refers to students who enroll in college, trade school, apprenticeships, or other education after high school.
This helps communities understand how many students continue their education and what pathways they choose.
Proficiency
Proficiency means a student has met the expected level of skill or knowledge in a subject, such as reading or math.
It’s usually measured by state tests or assessments.
Growth
Growth shows how much a student improves over time, not just whether they meet a benchmark.
It’s especially helpful for understanding progress for students who start at different levels.
Readiness
Readiness refers to whether a student is prepared for the next stage, such as kindergarten, middle school, high school, or college.
Readiness indicators often include attendance, grades, assessments, and social‑emotional skills.
Student Groups
Student groups are categories used to understand how different groups of students are doing.
Common groups include:
- Students with disabilities
- English learners
- Economically disadvantaged students
- Racial/ethnic groups
- Twice‑exceptional (2e) students
Looking at student groups helps identify strengths and gaps.
Twice‑Exceptional (2e)
A twice‑exceptional student is both gifted and has a disability.
These students often need unique supports to help them thrive.
IEP (Individualized Education Program)
An IEP is a legal plan that outlines services and supports for students with disabilities.
It includes goals, accommodations, and specialized instruction.
Rate
A rate is a percentage that helps compare data across different‑sized groups.
For example, a chronic absenteeism rate of 20% means 20 out of every 100 students are chronically absent.
Trend
A trend shows how data changes over time — whether something is increasing, decreasing, or staying steady.
Indicator
An indicator is a piece of information that helps measure something important, like attendance, grades, or readiness.
Cohort
A cohort is a group of students who start something at the same time, such as the Class of 2028.
Cohort data helps track long‑term outcomes.
Provider
In early childhood dashboards, a provider is any organization that offers childcare or early learning, such as a daycare center, preschool, or home‑based program.
Availability
Availability shows how many open spots exist in a program or region.
It helps families understand where services are accessible — and where gaps exist.
Why These Terms Matter
Understanding these terms helps families:
- Make sense of dashboards
- Ask informed questions
- Advocate for their children
- Understand community strengths and needs
- Support learning at home and in school
Future Path Data is here to make education information clear, welcoming, and useful for everyone.