diff --git a/openassessment/xblock/data_layer/data_layer_mixin.py b/openassessment/xblock/data_layer/data_layer_mixin.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..625ed926e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openassessment/xblock/data_layer/data_layer_mixin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+"""
+XBlock 
+"""
+from xblock.core import XBlock
+
+class DataLayerMixin:
+
+    @XBlock.json_handler
+    def get_block_info(self, data, suffix=""):
+        
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diff --git a/openassessment/xblock/data_layer/serializers.py b/openassessment/xblock/data_layer/serializers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ef954c96e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openassessment/xblock/data_layer/serializers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+from rest_framework.serializers import (
+    Serializer, 
+    BooleanField, 
+    CharField,
+    ListField,
+    URLField,
+    DateTimeField,
+    IntegerField,
+    SerializerMethodField
+)
+
+class CharListField(ListField):
+    child = CharField()
+
+class ORABlockSerializer(Serializer):
+    title = CharField()
+    prompts = CharListField()
+    base_asset_url = SerializerMethodField(source="*")
+    submission_config = SubmissionConfigSerializer(source="*")
+    teams_config = TeamsConfigSerializer(source="*")
+    assessment_steps = AssessmentStepsSerializer(source="*")
+    rubric_config = RubricConfigSerializer(source="*")
+    leaderboard_config = LeaderboardConfigSerializer(source="*")
+    
+    def get_base_asset_url(self, block):
+        return block._get_base_url_path_for_course_assets(block.course_id)
+
+class SubmissionConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    start = DateTimeField(source="submission_start")
+    due = DateTimeField(source="submission_due")
+
+    text_response_config = TextResponseConfigSerializer(source='*')
+    file_response_config = FileResponseConfigSerializer(source='*')
+
+class TextResponseConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    enabled = SerializerMethodField()
+    required = SerializerMethodField()
+    editor_type = CharField(source="text_response_editor")
+    allow_latex_preview = BooleanField(source="allow_latex")
+    
+    def get_enabled(self, block):
+        return block.text_response is not None
+
+    def get_required(self, block):
+        return block.text_response == 'required'
+
+class FileResponseConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    enabled = SerializerMethodField()
+    required = SerializerMethodField()
+    file_upload_limit = SerializerMethodField()
+    allowed_extensions = CharListField(source="get_allowed_file_types_or_preset")
+    blocked_extensions = CharListField(source="FILE_EXT_BLACK_LIST")
+    allowed_file_type_description = CharField(source="file_upload_type")
+    
+    def get_enabled(self, block):
+        return block.file_upload_response is not None
+
+    def get_required(self, block):
+        return block.file_upload_response == 'required'
+    
+    def get_file_upload_limit(self, block):
+        if not block.allow_multiple_files:
+            return 1
+        return block.MAX_FILES_COUNT
+    
+    
+class TeamsConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    enabled = BooleanField(source="is_team_assignment")
+    teamset_name = SerializerMethodField()
+    
+    def get_teamset_name(self, block):
+        if block.teamset_config is not None:
+            return block.teamset_config.name
+
+# It's so unclear to me how the block stores this stuff.
+# What's the best way to handle all this? I feel like there's an
+# obvious solution but I can't see it
+
+
+# editor_assessments_order:	['student-training', 'self-assessment', 'peer-assessment', 'staff-assessment']
+# rubric_assessments:  [{'examples': [{'answer': ['Replace this text with your own sample response for this assignment. Then, under Response Score to the right, select an option for each criterion. Learners practice performing peer assessments by assessing this response and comparing the options that they select in the rubric with the options that you specified.'], 'options_selected': [{'criterion': 'Ideas', 'option': 'Fair'}, {'criterion': 'Content', 'option': 'Good'}]}, {'answer': ['Replace this text with another sample response, and then specify the options that you would select for this response.'], 'options_selected': [{'criterion': 'Ideas', 'option': 'Poor'}, {'criterion': 'Content', 'option': 'Good'}]}], 'name': 'student-training', 'start': None, 'enable_flexible_grading': False, 'due': None}, {'start': '2001-01-01T00:00:00+00:00', 'due': '2029-01-01T00:00:00+00:00', 'name': 'self-assessment', 'enable_flexible_grading': False}, {'must_grade': 5, 'must_be_graded_by': 3, 'enable_flexible_grading': False, 'start': '2001-01-01T00:00:00+00:00', 'due': '2029-01-01T00:00:00+00:00', 'name': 'peer-assessment'}, {'required': True, 'name': 'staff-assessment', 'start': None, 'enable_flexible_grading': False, 'due': None}]
+
+
+class AssessmentStepsSerializer(Serializer):
+    order = CharListField()
+    settings = AssessmentStepsSettingsSerializer(source="*")
+
+class AssessmentStepsSettingsSerializer(Serializer):
+    peer = PeerSettingsSerializer()
+    staff = StaffSettingsSerializer()
+    self = SelfSettingsSerializer()
+    training = TrainingSettingsSerializer()
+
+class RequiredMixin:
+    required = BooleanField()
+
+class StartEndMixin:
+    start = DateTimeField()
+    due = DateTimeField()
+
+class PeerSettingsSerializer(RequiredMixin, StartEndMixin, Serializer):
+    min_number_to_grade = IntegerField()
+    min_number_to_be_graded_by = IntegerField()
+    flexible_grading = BooleanField() 
+
+class StaffSettingsSerializer(RequiredMixin, Serializer):
+    pass
+
+class SelfSettingsSerializer(RequiredMixin, StartEndMixin, Serializer):
+    pass
+
+class TrainingSettingsSerializer(RequiredMixin, Serializer):
+    pass
+
+class RubricConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    show_during_response = BooleanField(source="show_rubric_during_response")
+    feedback_config = RubricFeedbackConfigSerializer(source="*")
+    criteria = RubricCriterionSerializer(many=True, source="rubric_criteria_with_labels")
+
+class RubricFeedbackConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    description = CharField(source="rubric_feedback_prompt") #is this this field?
+    default_text = CharField(source="rubric_feedback_default_text")
+
+class RubricCriterionSerializer(Serializer):
+    name = CharField(source="label")
+    description = CharField(source="prompt")
+    feedback_enabled = SerializerMethodField()
+    feedback_required = SerializerMethodField()
+    options = RubricCriterionOptionSerializer(many=True, source="options")
+    
+    @staticmethod
+    def _feedback(criterion):
+        return criterion.get('feedback', 'disabled')
+    
+    def get_feedback_enabled(self, criterion):
+        return self._feedback(criterion) != 'disabled'
+    
+    def get_feedback_required(self, criterion):
+        return self._feedback(criterion) == 'required'
+
+class RubricCriterionOptionSerializer(Serializer):
+    name = CharField()
+    label = CharField()
+    points = IntegerField()
+    description = CharField(source="explanation")
+
+class LeaderboardConfigSerializer(Serializer):
+    enabled = SerializerMethodField()
+    number_to_show = IntegerField(source="leaderboard_show")
+
+    def get_enabled(self, block):
+        return block.leaderboard_show > 0
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