Assessment of Data Reliability

GAO is required to assess the reliability of data used in our reports. Therefore, for any computer-processed data that you provided as answers in questions 1 through 35, we would like to ask you some basic questions about whether or not your local board carries out certain practices or procedures to ensure or monitor the quality of those data. Please check with other staff, as necessary.

Financial Databases or Data Systems

For the next series of questions, please think only about the databases or data systems used to produce the financial information you provided to this point in the survey as you answer, and not about other data systems you may be aware of at your organization.

36.	For your financial databases or data systems, which of the following statements best describes the use of written procedures that define data elements or specify how the data are collected? (Click on one.)

	1.	Written procedures exist and are generally followed
	2.	Written procedures exist but tend not to be followed
	3.	Written procedures do not exist
	4.	Not sure

37.	For your financial databases or data systems, does anyone conduct routine internal reviews of the data to check for errors in completeness, accuracy, or reasonableness? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

38.	For your financial databases or data systems, does anyone independent of your organization (e.g. city, state, or federal officials, etc.) conduct periodic monitoring or audits of the data to check for errors in completeness, accuracy, or reasonableness? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

39.	For your financial databases or data systems, are there routine quality control procedures in place (e.g. data verification to original source documents, computer edit checks, etc.)? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

	Participant Information Databases or Data Systems For the next set of questions, please think only about the databases or data systems used to produce participant information you provided to this point in the survey as you answer, and not about other data systems you may be aware of at your organization. Please check with other staff, as necessary.

40.	For your participant information databases or data systems, which of the following statements best describes the use of written procedures that define data elements or specify how the data are collected? (Click on one.)

	1.	Written procedures exist and are generally followed
	2.	Written procedures exist but tend not to be followed
	3.	Written procedures do not exist
	4.	Not sure

41.	For your participant information databases or data systems, does anyone conduct routine internal reviews of the data to check for errors in completeness, accuracy, or reasonableness? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

42.	For your participant information databases or data systems, does anyone independent of your organization (e.g. city, state, or federal officials, etc.) conduct periodic monitoring or audits of the data to check for errors in completeness, accuracy, or reasonableness? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

43.	For your participant information databases or data systems, are there routine quality control procedures in place (e.g. data verification to original source documents, computer edit checks, etc.)? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

44.	Do you know of any potential problems or limitations with the reliability of the data used to answer any of the financial or participant questions up to this point in this survey? (Click on one.)

	1.	Yes *(Please describe these potential problems or limitations in the space below.)*
	2.	No
	3.	Not sure

	Data problems or limitations:

Full Report: GAO-05-650

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