People—and those who support them—need access to data to navigate the web of education and workforce pathways. But right now, they don’t have it. Without access to this data, individuals, the public, and policymakers alike are left to rely on their best guess about things like where to allocate resources, how to support students, which programs of study meet their career goals, and what training they need to pursue a high-quality career. 

Because of decades-long investments in statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs), most states have a powerful tool that could provide people with the information they need to make these decisions at key transition points along their journeys through education and into the workforce. However, state data infrastructure does not meet anyone’s current information needs. 

DQC’s new vision aims to change that. 

Our vision offers state leaders a clear goal to anchor necessary policy changes and system improvements, grounded in how it will make life different for people. Inside you’ll find:

• The types of data access that individuals, the public, and policymakers need to successfully navigate decisions through education and into high-quality careers;
• Four use cases in which SLDSs that provide access to data from education through the workforce are necessary to support decisionmaking at key transition points; and
• Clear ways that state and federal leaders can take action to make this vision a reality.

This is a big change, but it’s a possible change. And all of us can support states to do this work. 

To develop this vision for data access, DQC convened more than 40 national research, policy, and advocacy organizations, held individual conversations with state partners, and convened 10 state data leaders. This resource is the product of all of this work, collaboration, and thought partnership.