Though most states possess some type of longitudinal data system, functionality, access and data quality vary greatly. Quality systems combine data from across multiple agencies spanning early childhood to the workforce to create linked data and an understanding of outcomes. Stakeholders in turn must use this data to develop strategies to improve quality, ensure equity and maximize return on investment across systems. HB 1083 rightly seeks to ensure the state’s cross-agency data system collects and reports on data needed to evaluate education workforce programs against shared metrics for quality and success, and that the data included in the system spans agencies and education systems and into the workforce to inform decision-making and drive outcomes.
Though most states possess some type of longitudinal data system, functionality, access and data quality vary greatly. Quality systems combine data from across multiple agencies spanning early childhood to the workforce to create linked data and an understanding of outcomes. Stakeholders in turn must use this data to develop strategies to improve quality, ensure equity and maximize return on investment across systems. HB 1083 rightly seeks to ensure the state’s cross-agency data system collects and reports on data needed to evaluate education workforce programs against shared metrics for quality and success, and that the data included in the system spans agencies and education systems and into the workforce to inform decision-making and drive outcomes.