The conversation about education and workforce data moves fast: new reports, new discussions, new debates. But the issues that determine whether data actually improves people’s lives don’t change nearly as often as the headlines suggest. Back to Basics is DQC’s ongoing series on the fundamentals: the data policies, practices, and principles that have always mattered—and still do. Each post steps back from the moment to explain what’s really at stake—and why getting it right is worth the sustained effort.
August 2026: “Student Data Privacy is an Obligation, Not an Obstacle”
Rachel Anderson shares why leaders don’t need to walk away from data in order to protect privacy. Instead, leaders must focus on how to safeguard data while ensuring that data works for those supporting students. First and foremost, privacy is an obligation, not an obstacle.
July 2026: “The Value of a Statewide Longitudinal Data System”
Paige Kowalski shares why statewide longitudinal data systems are integral—because, at their best, they are the connective tissue of state education and workforce systems. That continuity matters because students don’t experience their lives in silos, and data systems shouldn’t either.
June 2026: “People Need Access to Data”
Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger kicks off the inaugural post in the Back to Basics series with a clear message—access to data is a necessity, not a luxury. Meaningful data access can make all the difference for individuals, communities, and states as a whole. Without it, too many opportunities will be missed.
