Data is a critical tool for answering questions and informing education and workforce policy decisions. Likewise, everyone involved in a student’s unique journey through education and into the workforce needs access to timely, accurate data to provide insights and drive improvements for students and workers. What programs are the most cost effective and work best for students and job seekers? What information do parents need to ensure that their kids are on track to graduate from high school? How can states attract and retain a talented workforce? Data is a crucial part of these conversations in every state.
This briefing book is meant to bring state policymakers, leaders, and decisionmakers up to speed on 12 essential topics in education and workforce data, including:
- Early childhood data helps ensure that children and families receive the services they need.
- K–12 student data helps improve student achievement.
- Postsecondary data provides insights about students, schools, and outcomes.
- Workforce data helps identify trends and inform decisions about the future.
- Statewide longitudinal data systems help answer questions and drive systemic change, economic mobility, and student success.
- Data governance policies maximize investments in state data systems.
- Student data must be kept private and secure.
- Student growth data provides a more equitable picture of student and school performance.
- Data generates the evidence that state and system leaders need to make decisions.
- State report cards provide the public information about student and school performance.
- Data empowers teachers and parents with information to better support learning.
- Teachers must be equipped with the skills to understand and use data effectively.
