Policymakers have an important role to play in crafting legislation that empowers those who need data to make decisions that serve all students. 

That’s why DQC has been tracking state legislation that governs the collection and use of education data since 2014.

This year, we’ve synthesized major lessons from the most effective legislative efforts over the years to create our latest checklist, Principles for Education Data Legislation.

And as always, we reviewed this year's education data legislation in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—including key themes, promising strategies, and next steps for state legislators—and compiled them for you in our Education Data Legislation Review: 2021 State Activity. 

This year’s state legislative activity focused on several education and workforce development themes:

•    Renewing conversations about education equity
•    Changing postsecondary plans and pathways into the workforce
•    Protecting privacy while providing online learning
•    Understanding learning loss and the use of assessments
•    Governing data systems and generating insights

Both resources are valuable guides to help policymakers and advocates work together to craft legislation that addresses education data needs effectively.

To learn more, click to download each of these resources: