Robust and reliable data are the backbone of strong R&D. Key data across systems and sectors that serve learners from preschool through high school and into college and the workforce must be linked to better understand their trajectories, foster systems-level alignment, and support for learners as they progress.
States can modernize their data systems’ technology and how they use it. They can also bolster stakeholders’ understanding of and mindset toward data and data-driven decision-making. In a new R&D paradigm, these systems shift from being used as compliance and reporting vehicles to ones that enable data-informed decision-making.
Key Actions
- Modernize cross-sector data systems so they are longitudinal and interoperable, and strengthen related policies and capacity.
- Blend and braid federal and state funding sources to resource the modernization of data systems. (Project Unicorn has published further guidance on how to do this.)
- Develop additional indicators to be reflected and valued within data systems that capture a more holistic picture of a learner’s journey and strengthen schools’ abilities to document and share evidence of their impact. For institutions of higher education, align these measures to the ACE/Carnegie Foundation classification system for economic and social mobility.
Learn From Other States
Discover how states across the country are modernizing their statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDS).
Colorado: Building a Modern, Cross-Agency Data System
Colorado’s 2024 law (HB-1364) established a $5 million investment to develop a statewide longitudinal data system and codify best practices for cross-agency governance. The new SLDS Governing Board, comprised of state leaders and public members, will link education and workforce data to inform decisions from classrooms to the Capitol. By grounding its system in transparency, alignment, and access, Colorado is modeling how modern SLDS can drive continuous improvement.
Washington: Connecting Data to Improve Student Pathways
Washington’s Education Research & Data Center (ERDC) links information from early childhood through workforce to answer cross-sector questions about learning and opportunity. Funded through a mix of federal and state investments, ERDC has strengthened transparency with public dashboards, data dictionaries, and a dedicated privacy officer. Working with the Washington Student Achievement Council, the state uses this data to notify eligible students of free college tuition and connect struggling learners to financial support, turning data into action for access.
Alabama: Aligning Education and Workforce Through Data
Alabama is modernizing how education and workforce data inform policy through the Alabama Terminal on Linking and Analyzing Statistics (ATLAS) and new cross-agency governance structures. Supported by state and federal investments, ATLAS connects data from K–12, postsecondary, and labor systems to measure outcomes and strengthen pathways. Recent legislation created a unified Workforce Pathways Division, ensuring that college and career programs are aligned and data insights drive continuous improvement statewide.
California: Setting a New Standard for Publicly Engaged Data Systems
California’s Cradle-to-Career (C2C) Data System is redefining what a modern SLDS can be. Built on transparency and public participation, the system engages families, educators, and researchers through open meetings, community conversations, and advisory groups. From multilingual outreach to interactive “Data Stories,” C2C demonstrates how inclusive governance and data literacy can make statewide data both trusted and transformative.