Data Deliverance

Student records saved by Mississippi system, local districts’ efforts.

As school districts in southern Mississippi struggle back to normal life following Hurricane Katrina, they can at least be assured that once their computer systems are working, databases of student academic and demographic information can be downloaded with a few mouse clicks.

The Mississippi Student Information System—which stores the past four years of student records—is serving as a backup for districts that have lost crucial equipment and software, and the information they contain, said John W. Jordan, the deputy state superintendent of education.

There is a possible glitch, though, because districts were not required to upload initial data for the 2005-06 school year until Oct. 10, which means that the state records are complete only through...