State Data Capacity: Updated Findings From States on Their Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems

• In Event: The Benefits and Consequences of Educational Data Systems

Abstract

This paper analyzes data from a U.S. Department of Education survey that assesses the current state and robustness of statewide longitudinal data systems’ (SLDSs) capacity across the entire P20W system (early childhood, K-12, postsecondary, career and technical education and the workforce). We answer three overarching research questions: 1) What K–12 data elements are included in the SLDSs? 2) How are K-12 SLDS student data linked to other data and what data elements are linked? 3) How do states and territories use data for reporting and decision-making? The findings provide a view of states’ capacities to link and use longitudinal data and provide researchers with a better sense of data capabilities across the US.

Authors

• Julia Bloom-Weltman, Applied Engineering Management

• Kristen Noel King, US Department of Education