Our History
2026
A4L announces JSON validity for SIF Unity (Specification)
A4L Community introduces the Data Observations (DO) Program
A4L Community introduces a refreshed Mission and Vision for the organization
2025
The Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) turns 10!
A4L Community publishes ‘A Call To Action‘
A4L Community publishes the SIF Infrastructure Specification 3.7 (global)
2024
A4L Community and PESC announce Joint Venture Agreement.
Global Education Security Standard (GESS), version 2 and self-assessment released.
A4L Community announces major milestones
A4L Community publishes the National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA), version 2
2023
Published SIF Data Model Specification (Australia) 3.6.1 highlighting enhanced OpenAPI integration
A4L Community published a white paper for Complete Confidence in Grade Pass Back
A4L Community announced a closer partnership with Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC) formally coordinating their work to align the adoption of secure, trusted, free and open data standards and methods across the P-20W domain.
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.6
Published the first ever international education sector specific data security standard – the Global Education Security Standard (GESS).
2022
Published SIF Data Model Specification (Australia) 3.6 enabling transfer of student information across state boundaries
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 4.3 – also known as Unity Specification
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.5
Consolidated membership into one Community offering (combining individual A4L Community and Student Data privacy Consortium (SDPC) memberships), with access to all data management & data privacy activities within the Community.
Three A4L.org websites launched (A4L.org / data.A4L.org / privacy.A4L.org) highlighting the Community moving forward in ‘Connecting and Securing Effective Learning EcosystemsTM‘
2021
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 4.2 – also known as Unity Specification
The Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) publish the National Research Data Privacy Agreement (NRDPA).
The A4L Community joins the Data Standards United (DSU) collaborative.
2020
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (New Zealand) 3.1
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 4.1 – also known as Unity Specification
The Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) launch the Vendor Signatory Badge Program.
The Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) publish the National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA).
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (New Zealand) 3.0
2019
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.3
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 4.0 – also known as Unity Specification
Inaugural meetings of the A4L New Zealand Community.
2017
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.2.1
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 2.8
2016
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.2
Launched the SDPC Resource Registry nationally to help school districts manage their Data Privacy Agreements.
2015
The Community expanded from a focus on the identification, management and movement of educational data… to include usage of data and learning information. Introducing the Access 4 Learning (A4L) Community.
Launched a Special Interest Group focusing on “tactical” student privacy – Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC)
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.1
2014
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 3.0.1
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 2.7M
Published SIF Implementation Specification (United Kingdon) 3.0
2013
Published SIF Data Model Implementation Specification (North America) 3.0
2012
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 2.7
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 2.6
2011
The Community moved forward to separate the SIF Infrastructure and Data Model Specifications, to enable the use of the infrastructure by other standards ‘over the wire’.
Published (global) SIF Infrastructure Implementation Specification 2.5
2009
Published SIF Implementation Specification (Australia) 1.0
Inaugural meetings of the SIF Association AU Community.
2007
SIF Association launch the SIF Certification Program to provide quality assurance of interoperability to the marketplace using the SIF Specifications.
Published SIF Implementation Specification (North America) 2.0r1
Published SIF Implementation Specification (United Kingdom) 1.0
2006
Inaugural meetings of the SIF Association UK Community.
2003
Started moving towards independent 501(c)3 non-profit association status.
Version 1.1 of the SIF Specification was approved.
1999
Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) was launched in a speech by Bill Gates at the American Association of School Administrators.
1998
A series of meetings began in July 1998 between Microsoft Corporation in partnership with 18 other companies on the topic of interoperability between education applications. The conclusion of these meetings identified that the best solution was for interested parties to collectively define standards that all software vendors could adopt.