Version: 0.01 Status: Normative Standard
0. Interpretive Basis and Certification Intent ————————————————--
GEOS-FN-004 defines the required properties and transformation rule that raw educational data streams and intermediate aggregates must satisfy in order for resulting Outcome Signal Portfolios to be eligible for certification as GEOS Certified Outcome Signal Portfolios (GeOSP™) under GEOS-FN-001.
This standard:
constrains certifiable artifacts only;
imposes no obligations, duties, or restrictions on any role; and
does not limit what any School System may compute, analyze, or retain internally.
Certification under this standard is voluntary and applies solely to the artifact submitted for conformity assessment.
1. Purpose and Scope ————————
This document specifies:
permitted transformations from raw educational data streams (Layer A) to internal aggregates (Layer B);
permitted transformations from Layer B aggregates to funding-facing signals (Layer C);
normalization, sampling, and temporal rules required for certification; and
auditability and reproducibility constraints required for finance-grade use.
This document operationalizes the requirements defined in GEOS-FN-001.
This standard applies to all signals included in an Outcome Signal Portfolio submitted for certification as a GeOSP™ for Foundational Numeracy.
2. Layer Definitions (Normative) ————————————
Layer A consists of raw, learner-level educational data generated by a Data Source Operator.
Layer A data:
may contain personally identifiable information (PII);
remains under the exclusive control of the School System and its Data Source Operators; and
is never disclosed externally for funding or certification purposes.
Layer A data is not eligible for inspection or certification.
Layer B consists of depersonalized statistical aggregates derived from Layer A.
Layer B artifacts:
contain no PII;
remain reproducible from Layer A under audit;
remain under the exclusive control of the School System; and
exist solely to support internal analysis and construction of Layer C artifacts.
Layer B artifacts:
MUST NOT be disclosed to Finance Facilities, Funders, Evaluators, or other external parties; and
MAY be accessed by a GEOSor™ Certified Partner™ solely for conformity assessment purposes, under NDA, and solely to reproduce Layer C artifacts.
Layer B is the lowest layer eligible for inspection under GEOS procedures.
Layer C consists of Sentinel signals constructed from Layer B aggregates in accordance with GEOS-FN-001 and this standard
Layer C artifacts:
contain no PII;
constitute the sole funding-facing artifacts under GEOS; and
form the contents of an Outcome Signal Portfolio submitted for certification.
Only Layer C artifacts may be disclosed to Finance Facilities for funding reliance, under applicable legal agreements.
3. Permitted Transformations ——————————--
Transformations from Layer A to Layer B MUST:
apply deterministic aggregation rules;
preserve traceability to source events under audit;
apply consistent inclusion and exclusion criteria; and
document all transformation logic in machine-readable form.
Transformations from Layer B to Layer C MUST:
operate exclusively on Layer B aggregates;
apply standardized statistical forms defined in GEOS-FN-003;
preserve temporal comparability; and
remain reproducible under independent reassessment.
4. Normalization and Sampling Rules —————————————
Signals included in a certifiable Outcome Signal Portfolio MUST:
declare population definitions and sampling frames;
specify minimum sample sizes used for computation;
document treatment of missing, sparse, or incomplete data; and
apply normalization consistently across reporting periods.
5. Temporal Consistency —————————
All signals MUST:
specify reporting intervals;
apply consistent temporal windows across periods; and
declare any changes to timing or exposure proxies.
Temporal changes do not invalidate certification but MUST be explicitly declared.
6. Volatility Disclosure —————————-
Each signal included in a certifiable Outcome Signal Portfolio MUST:
include a self-declared volatility characterization;
document the method used to compute volatility; and
provide historical variance measures sufficient for interpretive assessment.
The GEOS Standards do not prescribe volatility thresholds. The GEOS Standards require only that volatility treatment be explicit, auditable, and reproducible.
7. Reproducibility and Auditability —————————————
All artifacts submitted for certification MUST:
permit independent recomputation of Layer C signals from Layer B aggregates;
preserve immutable transformation logic;
retain versioned computation records; and
support re-assessment under GEOS contestation procedures.
8. Prohibited Practices —————————
An Outcome Signal Portfolio is not eligible for certification if it:
relies on opaque or non-reproducible transformations;
includes composite indices with undisclosed weighting;
incorporates discretionary adjustments after aggregation; or
obscures population definitions or temporal scope.
9. Relationship to Certification ————————————
GEOS-FN-004 defines the transformation rules required for an Outcom Signal Portfolio to be eligible for certification as a GeOSP™.
This standard:
does not mandate submission for certification;
does not require disclosure to any funding counterparty; and
does not imply funding eligibility.
10. Versioning and Evolution ——————————--
The GEOS Organization applies the stability and amendment principles defined in GEOS-CORE-001.
Revisions to this standard:
maintain backward interpretability where feasible; and
apply prospectively to newly submitted artifacts.