A SIRAS query creates a Found Set. Once the Found Set represents the records you intend to study, analyze that population inside SIRAS with Statistical Reports or export it for analysis outside SIRAS.
If the historical Found Set is intended to represent students rather than multiple archived transactions for the same students, use an appropriate Most Recent Archive query. SIRAS predefined historical population queries already apply the appropriate most-recent-archive logic. User-created historical queries should be reviewed carefully to make sure the query answers the intended historical question.
Query, Found Set, Report, Export
- Query = Who? A search or query determines which records belong in the population.
- Found Set = The population. The records returned by the query become the active Found Set used by downstream tools.
- Statistical Report = What does this population look like? Count, group, or compare the Found Set inside SIRAS.
- Data Export = What data do I need outside SIRAS? Export fields from the Found Set for Excel or another approved analysis workflow.
A Statistical Report or Data Export can be configured correctly and still answer the wrong question if the Found Set contains the wrong population.
For more about how SIRAS uses the active population, see Found Set.
Analyze Current Data
- Use Search, a Predefined Query, or a Saved Query to find the students you want to analyze.
- Verify the resulting Found Set.
- Choose how to analyze it:
- Inside SIRAS: use Statistical Reports.
- Outside SIRAS: use Data Export.
For query-building instructions, see Search Help.
Analyze Historical Data
The same Query → Found Set → Analyze workflow can be used with historical data.
You may begin with a SIRAS predefined historical query, a historical population estimate such as the Census/EOY estimates, or a user-created Advanced Historical Query that has been designed appropriately for the question being asked.
Date range, archive type, status criteria, Current-record restrictions, and other query logic can all change what the result means. When building a custom historical population query, make sure the query logic makes sense for the question being answered. Contact SIRAS Support when assistance is needed validating the historical query.
For SIRAS predefined historical population estimates, see Reconstruct a Historical SIRAS Population Estimate. For building your own historical query, see Advanced Historical Queries for Archived Student Data.
Why Most Recent Archive Matters
A student can have multiple archived records during the same historical period. If a historical query returns every qualifying archive, a Statistical Report can count archive records rather than students, and an export can contain multiple rows for the same student.
The historical query should return the appropriate most recent qualifying archive for each student so the Found Set contains no more than one result per student.
Using a SIRAS predefined historical population query? The appropriate Most Recent Archive logic is already built into the predefined query.
Building your own historical population query? Use the appropriate Most Recent Archive query type and verify that the date range and other criteria still make sense for the population you are trying to describe.
The rest of the query criteria must still match the historical question being asked.
Analyze the Found Set Inside SIRAS
Use Statistical Reports when the Found Set is correct and you want counts, percentages, or grouped summaries without taking the data outside SIRAS.
Click path: Reporting → Statistical Reports
Statistical Reports can count the Found Set by a field such as school, grade, Case Manager, or Plan Type; compare two fields with a Matrix; or compare three or more fields with a Table.
For the complete reporting procedure, see Statistical Reports Help.
Analyze the Found Set Outside SIRAS
Use Data Export when you need student-level rows or selected SIRAS fields for Excel, reconciliation, longitudinal analysis, or another approved external workflow.
Click path: Tools → Data Export
The Found Set controls which student or historical records are exported. The export setup controls which fields are included.
- Build and verify the Found Set.
- Open Tools → Data Export.
- Select the appropriate Data Set.
- Select the fields you need or load a Saved List.
- Give the export a meaningful filename that identifies the population, purpose, and date or historical period.
- Generate and download the export.
For complete export instructions, see Data Export Help.
Verify the Population Before Interpreting the Results
| Need counts or summaries? Verify the Found Set, then use Statistical Reports Help. | Need rows and fields outside SIRAS? Verify the Found Set, then use Data Export Help. |
| Need a predefined historical estimate? Use Reconstruct a Historical SIRAS Population Estimate. | Need to build a custom historical population? Use Advanced Historical Queries and verify that the query logic is appropriate. |
- confirm that the Found Set represents the intended population;
- for historical student-level analysis, confirm that the query returns no more than one appropriate archive per student;
- confirm that the report or export fields answer the question being asked; and
- do not interpret an estimated historical population as an official certified count unless the source actually supports that use.
