The 2024 state legislative season is underway, with 44 states and the District of Columbia currently in session—and it’s already been a busy one. So far, the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) team is tracking over 130 new education and workforce data bills from across the country.
Going into this legislative session, DQC recently highlighted the three actions state legislators should take this year to focus on access to data: codify cross-agency data governance, ensure greater access to data for decisionmaking, and keep data privacy and security top of mind.
So far, we are already seeing promising initiatives from legislators which would codify cross-agency data governance and enable greater access to data for decisionmaking, including the following four bills:
- Kansas’s HB 2774 would establish the Kansas Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics on Workforce Pathways (KTLAS), a secure system that would connect individuals and organizations to trusted information and resources that support their education to workforce journeys. Crucially, the legislation would create the Kansas Council on Workforce Pathways as an independent governing board to oversee KTLAS. Cross-agency data governance is the best way to ensure shared decisionmaking about P–20W data, a critical step toward expanding access to data for a wide range of users.
- Hawaii’s HB 1906 would appropriate funds to the Hawaii Department of Education to establish a centralized database that captures individualized student information. The database would be used as an early warning system to support students’ academic success. When educators have access to actionable information and data, they are able to make decisions that help provide students with the support they need to be successful. It isn’t enough to collect data, people must also have access to that data in order to make decisions and take action.
- Missouri’s SB 1366 would require school and district report cards to include new growth measures that provide a comprehensive view of how schools and districts are supporting student progress. In addition to the added measure, this legislation would require report cards to be clear, concise, and easily understandable. Including indicators that help families make informed decisions is the first step. This bill goes a step further by making sure families can understand and use the data that is available.
- Virginia’s HB 654/SB 72 would establish a “Parent Data Portal” that allows families to access individualized information about their students’ outcomes and progress on state assessments. If this bill sounds familiar, it is because lawmakers introduced and enacted similar legislation last year. The 2023 legislation established a work group to advise on the implementation of the data portal. With the group’s recommendations, the 2024 legislation makes updates to enhance support for parents and their ability to have the information they need to access and use the new portal. By proactively communicating about and sharing data through mechanisms like parent portals, states can take steps to build trust with communities and encourage effective data use.
For additional trends, themes, and notable bills throughout this session keep an eye out for our monthly legislative updates.
