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Creating a Path to Answers: How State Data Leaders Can Empower Researchers. State Implementation Guide

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Title: Creating a Path to Answers: How State Data Leaders Can Empower Researchers. State Implementation Guide
Language: English
Authors: Data Quality Campaign (DQC), Data Integration Support Center (DISC) at WestEd
Source: Data Quality Campaign. 2026.
Availability: Data Quality Campaign. 1250 H Street NW Suite 825, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-393-4372; Fax: 202-393-3930; e-mail: info@dataqualitycampaign.org; Web site: http://www.dataqualitycampaign.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Elementary Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Data Use, Information Systems, State Programs, Labor Force Development, Educational Research, Education Work Relationship, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Secondary Education, Higher Education, Longitudinal Studies, Best Practices, Researchers
Geographic Terms: Washington, Utah, Minnesota, Hawaii, California, Nebraska, Maryland, Texas, Virginia, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky
Abstract: Statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs) can hold the key to understanding what works in education, workforce development, and beyond--but they can enable this insight only if researchers are able to access and use the data effectively. By linking individual-level data over time and across at least early childhood, K-12, higher education, and the workforce, SLDSs can provide a unique opportunity for researchers to use cross-sector information to produce trusted insights that help individuals, the public, and policymakers understand education and workforce transitions and outcomes. As states work to optimize researcher access, they face common challenges, including managing limited staff capacity, navigating complex legal requirements, establishing appropriate security protocols, and balancing multiple stakeholder priorities. These challenges are solvable, and states across the country have developed innovative approaches that address these issues while maintaining data security and public trust. As states continue to build and modernize SLDSs, ensuring responsible researcher access is essential to maximizing the systems' value for communities and decisionmakers. This brief provides state data leaders--the individuals spearheading states' longitudinal, cross-agency data work--with practical pathways to secure, transparent, and effective researcher access. Through research and input from state data leaders, the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) and the Data Integration Support Center (DISC) at WestEd have identified five best practices for enhancing researcher access to de-identified individual-level SLDS data.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678659
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Creating a Path to Answers: How State Data Leaders Can Empower Researchers. State Implementation Guide
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Data+Quality+Campaign+%28DQC%29%22">Data Quality Campaign (DQC)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Data+Integration+Support+Center+%28DISC%29+at+WestEd%22">Data Integration Support Center (DISC) at WestEd</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Data+Quality+Campaign%22"><i>Data Quality Campaign</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: Data Quality Campaign. 1250 H Street NW Suite 825, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-393-4372; Fax: 202-393-3930; e-mail: info@dataqualitycampaign.org; Web site: http://www.dataqualitycampaign.org
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  Data: N
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  Data: 11
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Reports - Descriptive
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  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Use%22">Data Use</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Systems%22">Information Systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Programs%22">State Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Force+Development%22">Labor Force Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Research%22">Educational Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education+Work+Relationship%22">Education Work Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Best+Practices%22">Best Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Researchers%22">Researchers</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Washington%22">Washington</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Utah%22">Utah</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minnesota%22">Minnesota</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hawaii%22">Hawaii</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nebraska%22">Nebraska</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maryland%22">Maryland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Virginia%22">Virginia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22District+of+Columbia%22">District of Columbia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indiana%22">Indiana</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kentucky%22">Kentucky</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs) can hold the key to understanding what works in education, workforce development, and beyond--but they can enable this insight only if researchers are able to access and use the data effectively. By linking individual-level data over time and across at least early childhood, K-12, higher education, and the workforce, SLDSs can provide a unique opportunity for researchers to use cross-sector information to produce trusted insights that help individuals, the public, and policymakers understand education and workforce transitions and outcomes. As states work to optimize researcher access, they face common challenges, including managing limited staff capacity, navigating complex legal requirements, establishing appropriate security protocols, and balancing multiple stakeholder priorities. These challenges are solvable, and states across the country have developed innovative approaches that address these issues while maintaining data security and public trust. As states continue to build and modernize SLDSs, ensuring responsible researcher access is essential to maximizing the systems' value for communities and decisionmakers. This brief provides state data leaders--the individuals spearheading states' longitudinal, cross-agency data work--with practical pathways to secure, transparent, and effective researcher access. Through research and input from state data leaders, the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) and the Data Integration Support Center (DISC) at WestEd have identified five best practices for enhancing researcher access to de-identified individual-level SLDS data.
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  Data: 2026
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PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED678659
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Data Use
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor Force Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Childhood Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Best Practices
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Researchers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Washington
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Utah
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minnesota
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hawaii
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: California
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nebraska
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maryland
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Texas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Virginia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: District of Columbia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indiana
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kentucky
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Creating a Path to Answers: How State Data Leaders Can Empower Researchers. State Implementation Guide
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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