Access For Learning Community

Access for Learning Community, or A4L, is a global, not-for-profit corporation which provides solutions in the education data space and supporting the use of standards by schools, districts, states, countries, and education vendors. It has regional chapters in the US, UK, AU, and New Zealand.

It was formerly known as the Schools Interoperability Framework Association, or SIFA. The name was changed in May 2015.

A4L members collaborate on a variety of technical standards sometimes collectively known as the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). A4L publishes these standards, advocates their adoption, and provides training and support services. It also offers a SIF Certification trademark licensing program. The name change to Access For Learning (A4L) was said to represent a shift to a more solution oriented vision rather than merely advocating for the SIF specification, including using multiple standards to address school and district issues.

The organization includes more than 1000 members as of 2015, including government agencies, school districts, public advocacy organizations, and vendors of Schools Interoperability Framework products.