In DQC’s vision to transform data systems to enable access, one of our recommendations to federal leaders is to clarify and increase funding for statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) modernization and the source systems that contribute data to them. While states can and do allocate funds to that end, federal support remains critical.

Since 2005, the federal SLDS grant program has been instrumental in enabling the development of state data systems that collect data across multiple agencies. Most recently, the Institute of Education Sciences awarded 28 multi-year SLDS grants to states.

Examples of how some states have used SLDS grant funds include:

• Alabama implemented cross-agency data governance legislation aimed at enhancing and tracking postsecondary and workforce outcomes in the state.
• Connecticut uses funding from a number of sources, including federal SLDS grants, to maintain its P20 WIN data system that spans 15 different agencies.
• Maine is in the process of using SLDS grant funds to make education data—specifically student and staff data—more actionable by improving data tools used for decisionmaking.
• Washington uses state and federal funds to operate its Education Research and Data Center which develops longitudinal data across the state P–20W system.
• West Virginia’s P–20 SLDS was created using federal grant funding and currently combines data from a number of education agencies to provide insights into education and workforce data.
• Wisconsin used its most recent federal grant funding to improve the Wisconsin Information System for Education to make the system more secure and  improve the ability of users to make evidence-based decisions.

Federal funding enables states to make crucial investments in their SLDSs. Our recent blog post discusses the importance of the SLDS grant program as states work to improve access to data.