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Roadmap Update for the Ed-Fi Data Standard and Technology Suite

· 4 min read
Stephen A. Fuqua
Stephen A. Fuqua
Director, Software Engineering

The Ed-Fi Alliance continues to advance its mission of enabling interoperability and scalable data solutions for education agencies. At the recent Ed-Fi Alliance Summit 2025, we shared updates from the Ed-Fi Technology Roadmap, highlighted recent releases, and previewed what’s coming in the next few years.

Recently Released​

API Applications​

Tools​

  • ODS Admin App 3.3.4: Final planned release of the legacy Admin App, with enhanced input sanitization and user experience improvements.
  • API Publisher 1.3: Improved change version tracking and dependency management. Release summary

Coming Soon​

Data Standard 6.0​

November, via ODS/API 7.3.1

  • Integration of Educator Preparation Data Model (EPDM): Merged into the core Data Standard. See RFC 27(a) for more information.
  • Model Decomposition: Simplifies access to student, staff, and education organization data. See RFC 27(b) for more information.
  • Assessment Improvements: Adds support for composite single-subject assessments.See RFC 27(c) for more information.

ODS/API 7.3.1​

November

  • Supports Data Standards 4.0, 5.2, and 6.0.
  • Streamlined app settings for easier deployment management.
  • Bug fixes and dependency updates.

Admin API 2.3​

October/November

  • Supports both ODS/API 6.x and 7.x, enabling early retirement of Admin API v1.
  • Adds support for multiple client credentials per application and read-only tenant endpoints.

Ed-Fi Admin App 4.0​

October/November

This is new application that replaces the legacy Ed-Fi ODS Admin App. Developed in partnership with Education Analytics.

  • Core features for managing vendors, applications, and credentials.
  • Supports multiple deployment environments (6.x and 7.x) in one interface.
  • Differential user access and viewable claimsets for precise permission control.
  • One-time links for secure sharing of client credentials.
tip

You can get a sneak peak by viewing the new User Guide

Data Import 2.3.5​

December/January

  • Final planned release before end-of-life (June 30, 2026).
  • Bug fixes and dependency updates.
  • Alternatives include Earthmover, Lightbeam, n8n, and custom appplications (perhaps using the Ed-Fi SDK MCP?).

What’s Next​

Data Standard​

  • Version 6.x (2026): Special Education Data Model (SEDM), improvements for CTE/workforce, Validation API for data exchange, and a new PII "flag" for AI discovery.
  • Best Practices documentation: Expanded and better integrated with API client documentation.
  • Version 7.0 (2027), breaking changes could include:
    • SchoolYearType to SchoolYear
    • Finance domain
    • Gradebook domain

ODS/API 7.3.2​

Q2 2026

  • Supports Data Standard 6.1.
  • Upgrades to .NET 10 as .NET 8 support ends.
  • Package updates and bug fixes.
tip

The Alliance will try to provide a preview release of the .NET 10 upgrade in January or February, before Data Standard 6.1 is ready.

Data Management Service​

  • Version 1.0 (Q1?): Multi-instance and multi-tenant deployments, performant PostgreSQL queries, optional Keycloak authentication.
  • Version 1.1 (Q3?): .NET 10 upgrade, ODS compatibility layer, Unique ID System integration, features to be decided by the Data Management Service Work Group.

Admin Tooling​

  • Updates to API Publisher and Admin API for .NET 10.
  • Admin App (Q2 2026): SQL Server and Azure SQL support, DMS integration, automatic education organization sync, enhanced claimset/profile views, database instance creation/deletion, basic health checks.

1EdTech Integrations​

  • Ed-Fi OneRoster API (Q1 2026): Multi-version Data Standard support, SQL Server/PostgreSQL compatibility, Ed-Fi Authorization integration, multi-tenancy.
  • CASE, OpenBadges, CLR: Analysis begins in 2026, with CASE as the first priority.

Conclusion​

The Ed-Fi Alliance is committed to continuous improvement and community-driven development. With new releases, upcoming features, and a clear roadmap, the Ed-Fi Technology Suite is evolving to meet the needs of education agencies and their partners.