Longitudinal Data Systems in Michigan - Talent 2025 · The term state longitudinal data system (SLDS) is commonly used to refer to all statewide systems that track student achievement

Prepared by:

DAVID PALMER, MPA & TRICIA CZACHOWSKI

JANUARY 2020

LongitudinalData Systems in Michigan:SLDS Analysis, Stakeholder Input and Recommendations

Table of Contents

1 Acknowledgments

2 ItemsofNote

3 President’sLetter

4-6 ExecutiveSummary

7 GuidingQuestions

8-10 LiteratureReviewandSystemScanofNationalOrganizations

8 WhatisaStateLongitudinalDataSystem?

8 WhatisanIdealDataSystem?

11-20 NotableReportsandActivity

21-34 OverviewofMichiganSLDS

21 GeneralObservations

22 GovernanceandStructure

26 DataSystemFunding

32 DepartmentofLaborandEconomicOpportunity-WorkforceDevelopment

33 RequestingCustomorNon-PublicData

35-43 StakeholderInput:Conveningand1:1Discussions

36 ObservationsfromConveningsinNoviandGrandRapids,Michigan

38 OpinionsofIdentifiedDataSystems

40 AdditionalGeneralStakeholderStatements

41 LaborMarketInformationandStrategicInitiatives

42 1:1Meetings

44-49 BestPracticesfromAcrosstheUnitedStates

44 Washington

46 Virginia

47 Kentucky

48 OtherNoteworthyStates

50-52 Recommendations

54 AbouttheAuthors

55-56 Bibliography

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 1

ThisreportwascommissionedbyTalent2025inSeptemberof2019toprovidebetterinsightintothepast

development,currentstate,andfutureopportunityofMichigan’sstatelongitudinaldatasystems(SLDS).

TheauthorswouldliketothanktheleadersoftheWestMichigantalentworkinggroupfortheirtrustand

confidenceinourabilitytodeliverthisresearchinatimelyandeffectivemanner:

•KevinStotts,President,Talent2025

•AlexAndrews,ResearchManager,Talent2025

•JulieParks,ExecutiveDirectorofWorkforceTraining,GrandRapidsCommunityCollege

•JacobMaas,CEO,WestMichiganWorks!

•AndyJohnston,VPofGovernment&CorporateAffairs,GrandRapidsChamberofCommerce

•BillGuest,LeadConvener,TalNet

•RandyLindquist,AssociateSuperintendentforAcademicService,MuskegonAreaIntermediateSchoolDistrict

Talent2025andtheauthorswouldliketoacknowledgeandthanktheDougandMariaDeVosFoundationfor

providingthefundingtoperformthisresearch.

ThanksalsototheMichiganDepartmentsofTechnology,ManagementandBudget,andLaborandEconomic

Opportunity,includingstafffrom:

•MichiganBureauofLaborMarketInformationandStrategicInitiatives

•DepartmentofLaborandEconomicOpportunity-WorkforceDevelopment

•CenterforEducationalPerformanceandInformation

•P-20LongitudinalDataSystemAdvisoryCouncil

Finally,thanksareduetothe41individualswhoinvestedtheirtimein1:1interviewsorattendedin-person

conveningsinNoviandGrandRapids,Michigan.Theseincludedrepresentativesfromthefollowingorganizations:

•CalvinUniversity,CenterforSocialResearch

•CareerlineTechCenter

•CitizensResearchCouncilofMichigan

•ConsumersEnergy

•DetroitRegionalChamberofCommerce

•GrandRapidsAreaChamberofCommerce

•GrandRapidsCommunityCollege

•HamiltonCommunitySchools

•HenryFordCollege

•KentIntermediateSchoolDistrict

•LivingstonEducationalServiceAgency

•MacombIntermediateSchoolDistrict

•MichiganAssociationofSecondarySchoolPrincipals

•MichiganFuture,Inc.

•MichiganStateUniversity,EducationPolicy

InnovationCollaborative(EPIC)

•MichiganTalentArchitecture

Acknowledgments

•MuskegonAreaIntermediateSchoolDistrict

•NorthwestCommunitySchools

•OaklandCommunityCollege

•OaklandSchools

•OceanaCollegeAccessNetwork

•RalphC.WilsonJr.Foundation

•SoutheastMichiganCommunityAlliance(SEMCA)

•TheRightPlace,Inc.

•UniversityofMichigan,InstituteforSocialResearch,

YouthPolicyLab

•U.S.ChamberofCommerceFoundation

•WashtenawIntermediateSchoolDistrict

•WayneRegionalEducationServiceAgency

•WestMichiganWorks!

•WestShoreEducationalServiceDistrict,

CareerTechnicalEducation

•WorkforceIntelligenceNetwork

•WilliamDavidsonFoundation

2 | ITEMS OF NOTE

SLDS

Thetermstatelongitudinaldatasystem(SLDS)iscommonlyusedtorefertoallstatewidesystemsthattrack

studentachievementovertime,encompassingdatafromearlychildhood,education,andworkforcecategories.

Somestateshaveseparatesystemstohandleeachofthesethreecategories,whileotherseitherrefertothethree

systemsasoneorcombineallthreecategoriesintoonesystem.StateofMichiganrepresentativeshaveinformedthe

authorsthatwithinthestatedepartments,SLDSreferstotheMichiganEducationDataSystem.

Forthepurposeofthisreport,theauthorshaveusedSLDSinthegenerallyacceptednationalframing,inan

all-encompassingmanner,includingwhenreferringtoMichigansystems.Occasionally,aspecificMichigan

systemisreferenced:MichiganStateLongitudinalDataSystem(MSLDS)coverseducationdata,whileWorkforce

LongitudinalDataSystem(WLDS)referstoworkforcedata.

Names of State of Michigan Departments

Departmentsatthestatelevelchangeoccasionally.Throughoutthisreport,youmayseereferencestothe

previousnamesofcertaindepartments.Thesenamechangeswereinfluxatthetimeofthereportwriting,

andmanystateemployeeshadnotyetreceivedbusinesscardsorotherclearinstructionsondepartment

reorganizationandnamingconventions.Tohelpclarify:

•LaborMarketInformationandStrategicInitiatives(LMISI)issometimesreferredtoas“LaborMarketInformation”

•DepartmentofLaborandEconomicOpportunity(LEO),whichincludesWorkforceDevelopment(WD)

andUnemploymentInsuranceAgency(UIA)maybereferredtoas“TalentInvestmentAgency,”“TIA,”and

“WorkforceDevelopment.”

Items of Note

PRESIDENT’S LETTER | 3

Moving from Good to Great

Achievinglong-term,sustainable,economicvitalityforregionsandstateshasbecomeincreasinglydependentupon

themixofeducationandskillsattainedbytheirresidents.Wecanseethisintheconsolidationofmetroareaswith

highlyconcentratedpoolsofeducatedandskilledtalentfoundacrosstheUnitedStates.Regionsandlocalitiesare

strivingtoremaincompetitiveina21stcenturytalentlandscape,whereoftenhard-to-quantifyskillsleademployer

demandinthemarketplace.Noteworthyarethedeclinesofcommunitiesandregionswithlaborpoolsofcomparatively

less-educatedandlower-skilledtalent.Theirchallengesareoftencompoundedbydifficultyattractingandretaining

talent,inconjunctionwithaninabilitytoprovidesustainedandscalableupskillingforavailablejobs.

AnumberofrecentnationallyfocusedreportsfromthelikesofMcKinsey,Brookings,theU.S.ChamberofCommerce

Foundationandothersmakeclearthatexistingdisparitiesinthelabormarketareexpectedtobecomeevenmore

pronouncedasartificialintelligenceandautomationtransformtheworkplace.Thenatureandfunctionofworkis

changingbeforeoureyesinfavorofamoresophisticatedmixoftechnicalandsoftskills.

Atthesametime,Michiganfacestwosignificantchallenges:first,anagingpopulationanddecliningbirthrate.

Second,lowerlevelsofeducationandtrainingcomparedtoneighboringstatesandthenation.Thesepointsare

largelyunaddressedinourcivicmarketplaceinanyreasonablysubstantial,identifiableormeasurableway,asidefrom

considerablerhetoric.Michigan’sabilitytoretain,grow,andattractemployerswhoareinneedofaneducatedand

skilledworkforcetocompeteinaglobaleconomyhasbeenandremainsindecline.

Inthiscompetitiveenvironmentanduncertainfuture,Michigan’seducationandworkforcedevelopmentstrategies

needtobeoptimizedwithhigh-qualitydataandinsightstoensurewegrowastalentleadersinthenewdecade.

Talent2025’srecentreport,20/20Vision,reinforcesthispoint,showingthatalignmentofpublicpoliciesand

investmentsinfavorofevidence-basedstrategiesiscriticaltothefuturegrowthofourstate.

Therecommendationsstemmingfromthisnewresearchonlongitudinaldatasystemsarenotcomplicatedor

flashybutarechangesabsolutelycriticaltoimprovingthequalityofeducationandworkforcesystemsforallof

Michigan–individuals,employers,andcommunities–tocompeteinaglobalknowledgeeconomy.Functionality

followsculture.Michigan’spolitical,education,andtrainingculturesdesperatelyneedarefreshforthe21stcentury.

Theserecommendationsinvokeeconomicgardening,transparencyanddata-informeddecisionmaking.Itishard

tomakeacasethatMichigandoesanyofthesethingswelltoday,butTalent2025believesMichiganhasthe

expertise,toolsandthewilltodobetter,andwemustdobetterforthesakeofcurrentandfuturegenerations.

Talent2025looksforwardtoyourfeedbackand,ultimately,collaborationtosolvethesechallenges.

Withrespect,

KevinStotts,President,Talent2025

President’s Letter

4 | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Michigan’seconomicfuturewillbedeterminedbytheskillsandeducationofitsworkforce.Competinginthe21st

centurytalentlandscapedemandseducationandworkforcesystemsthataredesignedforaglobal,knowledge-

basedeconomy.

Tobeeffective,thesesystemsmustbebuiltonafoundationofhigh-qualitydatathatmeasurestheeffectivenessof

oureducationandworkforceprogramsindeliveringresultsforMichigan’scitizens,employers,andcommunities.

Thattransformationalreadyisunderway,andnationalstudiespredictittoaccelerate,drivenbythegrowingrolesof

automationandartificialintelligence.Tocompeteinthisenvironment,employersincreasinglydemandworkerqualities–

acombinationofsoftskillsandtechnicalexpertise–thatcanbedifficulttoquantifywithexistingdatasystems.

Meanwhile,Michigan’slagginglevelsofeducationandtraining,adecliningbirthrateandtightlabormarkethave

onlyaddedtoemployerneedformoresophisticatedanddetailededucationandworkforcedata.Toprovidethat

informationandtoguideimprovements,Michiganneedsabest-in-classstatelongitudinaldatasystemtoquantify

educationalandtrainingoutcomesforyouthandadults.

Examining the System

Michigan,alongwithotherstates,begandevelopingstatelongitudinaldatasystems(SLDS)intheearly2000s

totrackstudentprogressthroughthepubliceducationsystem.Thepurposewastoassistlocaleducatorswith

programmingandtoallowpolicymakerstoassessandmakedecisionsregardingtheeducationsystem.

Asthesesystemsdevelopedacrossthecountry,bestpracticesemerged.Manystatesbeganlinkingeducationdata

withadditionalstatesystems,includingworkforceandunemploymentwagedata.Theselinkagesofferedamore

holisticapproachtomeasuringandsupportingprogramchallengesandsuccess.InMichigan,thisresultedina

systemthatwastrifurcated,withoneagencyresponsibleforeducationdata,oneresponsibleforworkforcedata,

andanotherresponsibleforwagedata.Thesystemalsoisfederated,whereeachdepartmentoradministrative

entitycompiles,manages,anddetermineshowandwhenitsdatawillbeshared.

OurresearchoftheMichiganSLDSfoundwhatappearstobeonemajordrawback:Alackofaccesstolongitudinal

connectionsacrossK-12,post-secondaryandworkforcedatainawaythatallowsforresearch,innovationand

evaluationofinstitutionsandindividualprograms.

Why Improvements Are Needed

Michiganhasstruggledtoretain,growandattractemployersthatrelyonaneducatedandskilledworkforce.

Thedemographicchallengesweface,alongwithourcomparativelylowerlevelsofeducation,needtobe

addressedinarationalandmeasurableway.High-qualitydataisessentialtothisdiscussion.

AsofDecember2019,over$20millioninfederalfundinghasbeeninvestedinMichigan’sSLDS.Alongwith

employerdemandformoresophisticateddata,expectationsformorecapabilitieshavebeenrisingforyears

amongschooladministrators,communitycolleges,universityresearchers,theworkforcesystem,andnonprofit

workforceintermediaries.Theseexpectationsrangefromon-demandsystemsleveldata,togranularprogramlevel

data,whichcouldresultinanswerstoawiderangeofquestionsabouteducationandworkforceinvestments.

Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 5

Talent2025commissionedthisreportthankstofundingfromtheDougandMariaDeVosFoundationtoshedlight

onMichigan’sSLDS,sostakeholderscanhaveawell-sourceddocumentwithinsightsabouttheuseofthecurrent

SLDSandtoguideimprovementstowardabest-in-classsystem.

Inadditiontoanationalliteraturereview,stakeholderswereconvenedtobetterunderstandexpectations,

frustrations,andrecommendationsfromdiverseperspectives.ThepastandcurrentstateofMichigan’sSLDS

wasdocumentedandcomparedtobest-in-classsystemsaroundthecountry.

Building a Best-in-Class System for Michigan

Basedonourreviewofliterature,stakeholderinputandexaminationofhigh-functioningsystemsacrossthe

country,thecharacteristicsofabest-in-classSLDSinclude:

•WidespreadPolicymakerSupport

•MeaningfulAgencyCollaboration

•HighQualityGovernanceStructure

•RobustPrivacyandSecurityProtocols

Recommendations

ToachievethesecharacteristicsinMichigan’sSLDS,thisreportmakessevenrecommendations.Belowisasummary

ofthoserecommendations,whichareexploredindetailstartingonpage50ofthisreport.

1 Growacultureofdataliteracyandtransparency.

2 DesignandpublishclearrulesforengagementforaccesstoSLDSdata.Makethe“frontdoor”obvious

acrosswebsitesanddashboardsforalldataowners.

3 Addvitalreportingmetricstoemployerunemploymentwagereportingincluding:ONEToccupationcode,

jobtitle,hoursworked,andprimaryjobsite.

4 Addmissingdatafromexistingstatesystems.

5 Implementasystemofassigninguniqueidentifiercodes(UIC)atbirth,oratfirstengagementwithstate

services.IntegrateacommonsystemofUICassignmentacrossallstateagencies,agentsofthestate,

andsubcontractors.

6 Appropriatea“datainnovationandqualityfund.”

7 Revisitsuccessionplansamongkeystateagenciestoidentifyandverifycriticalsystemsandemployees.

Ifconsideredandimplementedwell,theseimprovementswillcatapultMichiganintothetoptierofbest-in-class

systems,providingawiderangeofresearchopportunities.Theyalsowouldprovide(arguablyforthefirsttime)

comprehensiveefficacymeasurestoaccompanybillionsofdollarsineducationandworkforceinvestments.Thisis

howweimprovethequalityofeducationandworkforcesystemsforindividuals,employers,andcommunities.

•StandardizationofData

•AdequateTechnicalInfrastructure

•DedicatedHumanCapital

•SustainableInternalLeadership

6 | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

How Recommendations Align with Best-in-Class SLDS Characteristics

Recommendations

1 Expand data literacy & transparency.

2 Publish rules for data access.

3 Add vital metrics to wage reporting.

4 Add missing data from existing systems.

5 Assign unique identifier codes.

6 Establish a data innovation & quality fund.

7 Verify critical data systems & employees.

Best-in-Class SLDS Characteristics

Widespread Meaningful High Quality Robust Privacy Standardization Adequate Dedicated Sustainable Policymaker Agency Governance and Security of Data Technical Human InternalSupport Collaboration Structure Protocols Infrastructure Capital Leadership

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GUIDING QUESTIONS | 7

Guiding Questions

•HowdoesMichigancomparetothebest-in-classstatelongitudinaldatasystems(SLDS)

acrossthecountry?HowcanMichiganbecomeabest-in-classsystem?

•Whatarethecurrentuserexperiences,needs,andexpectationsofaMichiganSLDS?

Howcanthestatebetterservethesestakeholders?

•WhatfundingandresourceshavebeenexpendedonthecurrentSLDS?Havegrants

andotherfundingresourcesdeliveredonpromises?

•WhoisabletoaccessSLDSdataandtowhatlevel?HowisSLDSdatashared

successfully?Canthisbereplicated?

•Whatdatasharingisdesiredbystakeholdersthathasnotbeenaccomplished?

Howcandatasharingchallengesbeaddressed?

•WhatarethegoalsforafutureSLDSandwhatstakeholdershavebeenidentifiedto

developafeedbackloop?

•DoMichigan’scurrentrulesfordatasharingresultinwell-informedandcoordinated

decision-makingwhileprotectingprivacy?Whatchangescanresultinasystemthatis

confidentlyusedfordecision-making?

•HowistheSLDSfundedandisthatfundingsustainable?

8 | LITERATURE REVIEW AND SYSTEM SCAN OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Throughaliteraturereview,13organizationsand15governmentagencieswereidentifiedasplayersinthestatelongitudinalsystemsspace,althoughmanymoreexist.Theseentitiesplayvariousroles,includingconductingresearch,conveningstakeholdersforbestpractices,studyingoractingupontheeconomiccomponentsofthedata,orprovidingsolutionstodata-identifiedworkforcegaps.ResearchandinformationregardingthedevelopmentofSLDSisrobust.

What is a state longitudinal system?Withthetechnologicaladvancementsofthe21stcentury,theabilitytoconnectpeopleandthingshasaccelerated

atanastoundingrate.Anexpectationforimmediate,accessible,easytounderstanddatahasaccompaniedthis

technologicalboom.Acomplementaryexpectationthatinstitutionalandgovernmentdecisionsbemadebasedon

thisdatahasgrownconcurrently.Manystategovernmentsnowstrivetocollectandmanagedatatosupportsmart

decisionmakingasamethodofefficientandaccountablegovernment.Michiganisnoexception.

AccordingtoaHuntInstitutereport,“Thefirstmajorpushforstatewidelongitudinaldatasystems(SLDS)came

throughtheEducationalTechnologyandAssistanceActof2002,whichcreatedthefirstcompetitivefederalgrant

processtosupportstateeducationagenciesinthedevelopmentofthesesystems”(Siddiqi&Goff,2019).This

initialfederalactionhassnowballedintoarushforallstatestodevelopstatelongitudinaldatasystems.

TheNationalCenterforEducationalStatistics(NCES)definesaneducationallongitudinaldatasystemas“adata

systemthatcollectsandmaintainsdetailed,highquality,student-andstaff-leveldatathatarelinkedacrossentities

andovertime,providingacompleteacademicandperformancehistoryforeachstudent;andmakesthesedata

accessiblethroughreportingandanalysistools.”(NationalForumonEducationStatistics,2010,p.7)

AnSLDSisoftenreferredtoasaddressingP-20W–encompassingdatafromprekindergarten(earlychildhood),

K-12,andpost-secondarythroughpost-graduateeducation,alongwithworkforceandotheroutcomesdata

(e.g.,publicassistanceandcorrectionsdata).Thespecificagenciesandotherorganizationsthatparticipatein

aP-20W+initiativevaryfromstatetostate(NationalCenterforEducationStatistics,February2017).

What is an ideal data system?WhilemanystatesreportbuildingandmaintaininganSLDS,nationalstandardshaveonlybeenminimallydeveloped.

Federallyrequireddatasetsprovidesomestructureanduniformity,butthereisalackofstandardsacrossthenation

fordevelopmentofthesesystems.Theintegrateddata,theexistenceofthedatasets,andtheiravailabilityvary

greatly.Mostuniformityacrossstatesisoccurringonavoluntarybasisandonlyinproactivestates.

Literature Review and System Scan of National Organizations

LITERATURE REVIEW AND SYSTEM SCAN OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS | 9

Governmentorganizationsandnationalexpertshavedevelopedrecommendationsfordeveloping,maintaining,and

maximizingtheusefulnessofthesedatasystems.

Government Organizations and National Experts

Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC)

Researchandtechnicalassistancerelatedtostatedatasharing.AnevaluationofCRECreportswasconducted

inthisresearchpaper.

Child Trends

Nationalresearchorganizationfocusedexclusivelyonimprovingthelivesofvulnerablechildrenandyouth.

Common Education Data Standards (CEDS)

Educationdatamanagementinitiativewhosepurposeistostreamlinetheunderstandingofdatawithinand

acrossP-20Winstitutionsandsectors(https://ceds.ed.gov/whatIsCEDS.aspx).Thisdoesnotcontaindataabout

thestatusofMichigan’sSLDS,butcouldbearesourceforrecommendationsandpossibleassistance.

State of Washington, Education Research and Data Center (ERDC)

Anumberoforganizationsincludethetitle“EducationResearchandDataCenter.”Severalstateshaveasimilar

typeofcenter.Forthepurposeofthisstudy,thisreferenceistotheStateofWashingtonERDC,whichincludes

anextensiveamountofstudiesandresourcesregardingstatelongitudinaldatasystems.

National Governors Association

Hasapublicpolicypositionforworkforcedevelopmentandpost-secondaryeducationthatincludesencouragement

ofSLDS(https://www.nga.org/policy-positions/job-training-and-higher-education/).Anissuesinitiativerelated

todataandaccountabilityidentifiesgovernorsastheonlyofficialsthatoverseetheentirepipelinefrombirth

intotheworkforce.Theinitiativeencouragestheuseofdatatoensurethatoutcomesaremetacrossthe

educationpipeline(https://www.nga.org/center/issues/data-and-accountability/).

National Skills Coalition (NSC)

Extensiveresearchandrecommendationsregardingworkforcedataanddatasystems.IncludestheWorkforce

DataQualityCampaign(WDQC)andaStateWageInterchangeSystem.

The Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems

Abletodeveloporenhancecoordinatedearlychildhoodlongitudinaldatasystems(https://www.sri.com/work/

projects/center-idea-early-childhood-data-systems-dasy).

The Hunt Institute

AnaffiliateoftheDukeUniversitySanfordSchoolofPublicPolicy.Strategiccatalystfortransformingpublic

educationpolicy.

10 | LITERATURE REVIEW AND SYSTEM SCAN OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Aspen Institute

Offersmacroeconomicargumentsforextensivestatedatasystems.Reportsindicatethatstatedatasystems

areimportanttoaligningthefutureworkforcetoneededskillsandtraining.

Credential Engine

MaintainstheCredentialRegistry,acloud-basedlibrarythatcollects,maintains,andconnectsinformation

onalltypesofcredentials,fromdiplomastoapprenticeshipsandfromlicensestoPhDs.TheRegistryholds

detailedinformationonmanytypesofcredentialsinaneasilyaccessibleformat.

Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN)

Providesprioritizedreal-timeworkforcedatathroughlabormarketreportsspecifictothe16-county

Detroitlaborregion.Alsoprovidesoccupationorindustryspecificspecializedreports.

Federal Agencies

Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL ETA)

HoldsWorkforceInformationAdvisoryCouncil.Developingreport“RecommendationstoImprovethe

Nation’sWorkforceandLaborMarketInformationSystem”(2018)

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

PrimaryfederalentityforcollectingandanalyzingdatarelatedtoeducationintheU.S.andother

nations.NCESislocatedwithintheU.S.DepartmentofEducationandtheInstituteofEducation

Sciences.NCESfulfillsacongressionalmandatetocollect,collate,analyze,andreportcomplete

statisticsontheconditionofAmericaneducation;conductandpublishreports;andreviewandreport

oneducationactivitiesinternationally.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

AdministrativeApproachestoEnhanceAvailabilityofdata(2016)(https://www.hhs.gov/open/2016-plan/

approaches.html)

United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)

BetterDataNeededtoAssessandPlanforEffectsofAdvancedTechnologiesonJobs(March2019)(https://

www.gao.gov/products/GAO-19-257)

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

AdivisionoftheU.S.DepartmentofLabor,BLSistheprincipalfederalagencyresponsibleformeasuring

labormarketactivity,workingconditions,andpricechangesintheeconomy.Itsmissionistocollect,analyze,

anddisseminateessentialeconomicinformationtosupportpublicandprivatedecisionmaking.Asan

independentstatisticalagency,BLSservesitsdiverseusercommunitiesbyprovidingproductsandservices

thatareaccurate,objective,relevant,timely,andaccessible.

NOTABLE REPORTS AND ACTIVITY | 11

Anationalscanofreportsandresearchrevealspromisinginsightstowarddevelopinghigh-functioningstatelongitudinaldatasystems.Theextentoftheresearchreflectsthestrongdemandforcomprehensive,trustedandaccessibledatathatcanbeusedtooptimizeeducationandworkforcestrategies.Theliteraturesummarizedbelowincludesanalysesofcurrentpractices,legislationandrecommendationsforimprovement.

The National Skills Coalition

TheNationalSkillsCoalition(NSC)engagesinorganizing,advocacy,andcommunicationstoadvancestateand

federalpoliciesthatsupportavisionofanAmericathatgrowsitseconomybyinvestinginitspeoplesothatevery

workerandeveryindustryhastheskillstocompeteandprosper.Itsworkseekstohelpelectedofficialsanswerthe

question:“Areoureducationpoliciesequitablyservingadiverseworkforceandnimblyrespondingtotheevolving

skillneedsofour21stcenturyeconomy?”

NSCiscontinuingworkstartedthroughitsWorkforceDataQualityCampaign(WDQC),andconductedextensive

researchtodevelopsmartdatapolicies,systems,andtoolstoaddressthisneed.WDQCpublishedmultiplebriefings

sharingbestpracticesandrecommendationsregardingthedevelopmentofSLDS:

n Smart Data for a Skilled, Inclusive 21st Century Workforce

This2019NSCreportrecommendsthatsystemsshouldtrackemploymentoutcomesforgraduatesofall

post-secondary,workforcedevelopment,andsupportserviceprograms,anddocumentthepathwayswhereby

peoplecombinethoseprogramstodevelopnewcareers.Thesedatasystemsshouldincludeinformationon

allcredentials,includingcertificates,licenses,andcertifications.Stateandfederalagenciesshouldusethisto

guideinvestmentstosupportprogramswiththegreatestsuccess.NSCrecommendsstatesandfederalagencies

makekeydataavailableinaccessibleformatstohelpstudentsandworkersselecteducationandcareerpaths

thatleadtogoodjobs.Inaddition,theyrecommend(NationalSkillsCoalition,2019):

1.Betterdatatoalignprogramsandmakeiteasierforworkerstomoveacrosssystemsandgetskills

neededthroughouttheircareer.Thisincludesdatareformsacrossworkforcetraining,careerand

technicaleducation(CTE),work-basedlearningandapprenticeship,highereducation,adultliteracy,

safetynetprograms,TradeAdjustmentAssistance(TAA),transportation,energy,andinfrastructure

trainingprograms.

2.Disaggregatedemploymentandearningsoutcomesattheprogramlevelshouldbeusedtoshowthe

publicwhoisbeingwellservedandwhoisnotbyspecificprograms.

NSChelpeddevelopandpasstheCareerExplorationExpansionAct,whichhasbeenpassedineightstates

(notincludingMichigan).Thislegislationhelpsstatesmeasurenon-degreecredentialattainment.NSCalso

advocatesforfederalsupportofstatelongitudinaldatasystemsincludingtheWorkforceDataQualityInitiative

(WDQI).TheagencyadvocatesforsupportoftheCollegeTransparencyAct,whichwouldrequiretheNational

Notable Reports and Activity

12 | NOTABLE REPORTS AND ACTIVITY

CenterforEducationStatisticstodevelopandmaintainasecure,privacy-protectedpost-secondary

student-leveldatasystemto(U.S.Congress,2019):

1.“accuratelyevaluatestudentenrollmentpatterns,progression,completion,andpost-collegiate

outcomes,andhighereducationcostsandfinancialaid;

2.“assistwithtransparency,institutionalimprovement,andanalysisofFederalaidprograms;

3.“providemoreaccurate,complete,andcustomizableinformationforstudentsandfamiliesmaking

decisionsaboutpostsecondaryeducation;and

4.“reducethereportingburdenoninstitutionsofhighereducation,inaccordancewithsection5(b)

oftheCollegeTransparencyAct.”

n Saying ‘Yes’ to SLDS

This2019reportbyNSCrecommendsthatstatelongitudinaldatasystemsshouldcontaindatafromacross

theeducationandworkforcespectrum.SLDSstaffshouldcommunicateinformationaboutthebenefitof

SLDSbysharingtailoredmessagesabouthowstakeholderscanbenefitfromparticipatingintheSLDS.

Examplesofhowotherstakeholdershavebenefitedfromparticipatinginthesystemshouldbeused.

Staffshouldproactivelyprovidedetailedinformationaboutprivacyandsecuritypractices.Statesshould

ensureparticipationindatagovernancebyenablingparticipatingagencyleaderstohaveasenseofownership

overtheSLDSthroughagovernanceoradvisorycouncil.

n Making Wage Data Work

Inthis2018brief,theWorkforceDataQualityCampaignassessedtheneedforSLDSdataatthefederallevel

andthelimitationsofsomeoccupationtypeswithinthesesystems:

“�Congress�has�mandated�that�states�use�UI�(unemployment�insurance)�wage�record�data�to�show�the��

performance�of�some�federally�funded�programs,�such�as�those�supported�by�the�Workforce�Innovation�

and�Opportunity�Act�(WIOA),�which�require�reporting�on�employment�and�earnings�at�quarterly�intervals.�

UI�wage�records�do�not�include�data�on�federal�employees�and�self-employed�individuals�that�are��

important�for�providing�a�complete�picture�of�the�workforce.�The�Office�of�Personnel�Management�

retains�wage�data�on�federal�workers,�although�the�government�holds�military�personnel�and�U.S.�Postal�

employee�records�separately.�The�U.S.�Department�of�the�Treasury�holds�W-2�and�tax�data�on�all�workers.�

Of�note,�the�Internal�Revenue�Service�(IRS)�1099�form�captures�earnings�from�self-employed�individuals.�

The�Social�Security�Administration�also�retains�W-2�and�tax�data.”

ThisreportalsodetailsamajorprojectstartedfromapartnershipbetweentheU.S.CensusBureauandthe

UniversityofTexas(UT)SystemtoprovidemorelongitudinaldataforresearchersaswellastheUTSystem

dashboardsthatprovidepublicinformationontheearningsofgraduatesbyprogramofstudy.Theproject

showsthepotentialformatchingotherhighereducationdatawithLongitudinalEmployer-HouseholdDynamics

(LEHD)earningsdatafromaroundthecountry.LEHDaredatasetsthroughtheU.S.CensusBureauthatmay

beusedtoresearchandcharacterizeworkforcedynamicsforspecificgroups.Formoreinformation,visit

https://lehd.ces.census.gov/data/.


Inthisreport,WDQCrecommends:

“�Whether�or�not�DOL�becomes�the�backbone�of�a�federal�source�of�wage�data,�Congress�should�consider�

amending�WIOA�to�allow�the�Department�to�create�a�database�with�personally�identifiable�information�

on�all�program�participants.�DOL�or�other�authorized�agencies�could�more�easily�match�workforce�

program-participant�data�with�information�from�other�systems,�including�wage�record�data.�The�eventual�

reduction�in�separate�administrative�steps�would�result�in�more�comprehensive�and�timelier�workforce�

program�information.�In�conjunction�with�better�access�to�wage�data,�this�solution�would�also�make��

it�easier�for�DOL�to�create�consumer�reports�for�prospective�workforce�education�participants�and�businesses�

across�the�nation.”�(Pena,�2019,�Making�Wage�Data�Work)

n Workforce Success Relies on Transparent Post-Secondary Data

TheNSCnotedinthis2018paperthat,toreportontrendsinpost-secondaryeducation,theU.S.Department

ofEducation(U.S.DOE)mostlyreliesonsurveysofpost-secondaryinstitutionsforitsIntegratedPost-Secondary

EducationDataSystem(IPEDS).Theinformationdoesnotincludeemploymentandearningsoutcomes.

U.S.DOEalsooverseestheproductionoftheCollegeScorecard,whichincorporatesannualearningsdata

gatheredfromtheU.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury,butthesedataarelimitedtofederallyaidedstudents,

andU.S.DOEonlyrecentlystartedreportingtheresultsforindividualprogramsofstudyormajors.

WDQCisadvocatingheavilyforafederalstudent-leveldatanetworkthatwouldenablethegovernmentto

reportontheemploymentandwageoutcomesofpostsecondarystudentsnationwideandallowforthe

creationofonlinedatatoolsthatincludeindicatorsonemploymentandearnings,sostudentscouldcompare

programswithinandacrossinstitutionstomakemoreinformeddecisionsabouttheireducationandcareers.

(Pena,2018,WorkforceSuccessReliesonTransparentPost-SecondaryData)

n Measuring Non-Degree Credential Attainment (Levantoff, 2019)

ThisNSCreportindicatesthatstatesshouldincorporatedataonnon-degreecredentialsintotheirSLDS

andmatchdataacrosseducationandworkforcetoassessifprogramsarepreparingstudentsandifthose

studentsarefindingemploymentandhowsubpopulationsarebeingserved.Statesystemsappeartovary

widelyregardingtheirdataavailabilityandinclusionofnon-degreecredentials,withpublicfor-creditcertificate

programs,registeredapprenticeshipcertificates,andlicensesmostlikelytobeavailable.Moststatesalsohave

dataavailableforindividual-levelfor-creditcertificatesfrompublicinstitutionsintheirstate,andmorethan

halfofstatesreporthavingregisteredapprenticeshipcertificationdataandlicensingdata.Non-registered

apprenticeshipcertificatesandindustrycertificationsdataarenotwidelyavailable.Moststatescanbreak

downcredentialattainmentbyageandrace/ethnicity.


Data Quality Campaign

n Education Data Legislation Review: 2019 State Activity

AsofAugust1,2019,325billswereintroducedin2019in47states,with83lawsenactedin32states.

NonewlawswereenactedinMichigan.

Billsbeingintroducedacrossthecountrybuildonfoundationalpoliciesthatsupporttheabilityofeveryone

withastakeineducationtousedatatoservestudents.Thesebillsincluded:

•Dataprivacy,security,andconfidentiality(studentprivacybillswerethemostcommon)

•Datagovernance

•Cross-agencylinkages

•Cross-sectordatasharing

•Dataaccessforthoseclosesttostudents

•Toolsforlocaldatause

•Publicreportingandopendata

Educationdatalegislationisaddressingeducationprioritiesthrough:

•Accountabilityorschoolimprovement

•Improvingthequalityofearlychildhoodeducation

•Schoolchoice

•Schoolsafety

•Flexiblepathways,includingcareerandtechnicaledanddualenrollment

•Mentalhealth

•Workforcedevelopment

•Teacherquality

Datarelatedlegislationshouldincludedollars,training,orincentivesthatwouldsupporttheabilityofteachers

andschooladministratorstouseandactonhighqualitydatatoinformpracticetoservestudents.

The Hunt Institute

n Connecting the Continuum: Longitudinal Data Systems in North Carolina This2019reportidentifiedthatsincetheinceptionofSLDSthroughtheEducationalTechnologyandAssistance

Actof2002,federalcompetitivegrantprocesseshavecontributedmorethan$700milliontosupportstate

educationagenciesintheirdevelopment.Thisfundinghasbeendistributedamong47states,theDistrictof

Columbia,PuertoRico,andtheU.S.VirginIslandsthroughSLDSgrants.RacetotheTopfundinghasalsobeen

awardedtohelpwithpolicyreformsthatenhancestandardsandassessments,improvedatacollectionanduse

ofdata,andincreaseteachereffectiveness.SignificantprogressinSLDSwasrequiredtoreceiveRacetothe

Topfunding,servingasanincentiveprogram.(Siddiqi&Goff,2019,ibid)

RegardingSLDSfunding,statesvarygreatlyintheamountoffundingawarded,withTexasreceivingthemost

fundingwithover$33million,andthreestatesreceivingnofunding(Alabama,NewMexico,andWyoming).


Michiganisclosertothemiddleofthepack,receivingslightlyover$19million,including$3,000,000in2006,

$5,517,228in2009,andanadditional$10,624,964in2009aspartofARRAfunding.Michiganranks14th

inSLDSgrantfunding.

Thisreportidentifiedthekeycharacteristicsofahigh-qualitySLDS,including:

•widespreadpolicymakersupport,

•meaningfulagencycollaboration,

•highqualitygovernancestructure,

•robustprivacyandsecurityprotocols,

•standardizationofdata,

•adequatetechnicalinfrastructure,

•dedicatedhumancapital,

•sustainableinternalleadership.

The Aspen Institute

n Aspen Institute Future of Work Report (Aspen Institute, 2019, P. 11-12)

Thisreportincludesanoverviewoftheneedforandbenefitofimprovedlabormarketdata,withalistof

recommendationsforstatepolicymakerstoimprovedatacollectionandusage.Recommendationsinclude:

•AddnewdataelementsinstateUIwagerecords,suchasoccupationaltitle(usingstandardized

occupationalcodes),hoursworked,credentialcompletion,andworksite.

•UsenewlyenrichedUIdataandotheradministrativedatatocreatetrainingprogrameffectiveness

measuresiftheyarematchedwitheducationprogramdatathroughstatelongitudinaldatasystems.

TheagencyrunningtheSLDSshouldhaveacloseworkingrelationshipwiththestateagenciesthatare

providingdata.Ifpresentedsimplyandinastandardizedformat,thissystemcanhelpstudentsmake

informeddecisions.StatesshouldprioritizesharingUIdatawithotherstatesandthefederalgovernment.

•Increasefundingforstatelabormarketinformationsystemsthatproduce,disseminate,andanalyze

stateandlocallaborforcestatisticstoenableinformeddecisionmaking.

•Statesshoulddevelopamoreeffectiveandtransparentskills-basedlabormarket,workingwithemployers

andeducationalinstitutionstomakeskillsacommonlanguageandcurrencyforjobpostingsandeducation

andtrainingprograms.

Early Childhood Data Collaborative

n “2018 State of Early Childhood Data Systems,” Fifty State Survey

Asurveyofthefiftystatesin2018revealedthefollowingnationalneeds:

•Establishandstrengthenstateearlychildhoodeducation(ECE)datagovernancebodiestoguidethe

coordination,security,andappropriateuseofECEdata.

•Strengthenstates’capacitytosecurelylinkdataonyoungchildrenacrossallstateandfederalECE

programs,includingHeadStartandhomevisiting.

•Expandeffortstocollectandlinkdataabouttheearlychildhoodworkforce.


•Communicatewithparentsaboutdataprivacypoliciesandusesofearlychildhooddata.

•Useexistingdatasystemsplanningtoolsandtechnicalassistancetosupportearlychildhooddatasystem

integration.(https://www.ecedata.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ECDC-50-state-survey-9.25.pdf)

The Joyce Foundation

n Using Data to Promote Continuous Improvement of Workforce Programs: Guidance for States

Preparing Applications to the U.S. DOL Workforce Data Quality Initiative

This2010briefing,partofTheJoyceFoundation’sShiftingGearsinitiative,wascreatedtohelppotential

WDQIgrantapplicantswithrequirementsandexpectationsofapplications.ThereportindicatesthatWDQI

minimumrequirementsforSLDSincludedatafrom(p.1):

•WIATitleI;

•Wagner-PeyserAct;

•TradeAdjustmentAssistanceprogram;

•UnemploymentInsurance(UI)wagerecords;

•UIbenefitdata;and

•FederalEmploymentDataExchangeSystem(FEDES)data

Stateapplicantswerealsoencouragedtoinclude:

• VocationalRehabilitation;

• RegisteredApprenticeship;

• TemporaryAssistancetoNeedyFamily(TANF);and

• SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram(FoodStamps).

Thereportalsorecommendsthefollowing(p.3):

“��State�agencies�can�help�to�ensure�that�local�workforce�education�and�employment�programs�are��

meeting�labor�market�needs�by�publishing�analyses�of�the�gap�between�projected�job�demand�by��

occupation�and�program�completers�in�related�fields�for�each�region�of�the�state.�This�is�relatively��

easy�to�do�for�postsecondary�career-technical�programs,�since�data�on�credentials�awarded�by�field��

are�available�for�community�colleges�and�other�postsecondary�institutions�through�the�Integrated��

Post-Secondary�Education�Database�System�(IPEDS)�compiled�by�the�U.S.�Department�of�Education.”

U.S. Department of Education

n College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education, 2019)

TheU.S.DOErecentlyupdatedtheonlineportalthatprovidesinformationaboutcollegeprograms,

costs,admissions,andresults.TheNovember20,2019,updateincludedkeytransparencyfieldofstudy

graduatecount,debt,andearningsdata.Thetoolalsoaddedadifferentiationbetweendegree-granting

andnon-degreegrantingschools.TheCollegeScorecardwasoriginallyreleasedin2015andhasundergone

severaltransformations.


Datapointsincludethetypeofinstitution,location,graduationrate,salaryaftercompleting(onlyoneyear

available),andaverageannualcost.Dataisonlyavailableinaggregateformandisnotavailableforcohorts

oflessthan20individualsduetoprivacyfactors.Averageannualcostisdefinedas,“Theaverageannualnet

pricethatastudentwhoreceivesfederalfinancialaidpaystocoverexpenses(e.g.tuition,livingexpenses,

etc.)toattendaschool.Netpriceistheschool’scostofattendanceminusanygrantsandscholarships

received.Forpublicschools,thisisonlytheaveragecostforin-statestudents.”

Theportalalsoincludestheabilitytodownloaddatafilesinadditiontoadatadictionary,technicaldocumentation

forinstitution-leveldatafiles,andbyfieldofstudy.Thesitealsoincludeslinkstoadditionalresourcessuchas

apprenticeships,O-NETCareerExplorer,andstudentaidinformation.

Thelimitationoftrackingsalarytoonlyone-yearpost-graduationcanbedeceptive.Someoccupationscan

takeseveralyearstoreachthetypicalearningpotential.Graduationratesforcommunitycollegesareskewed,

astheseinstitutionsalsosucceedwhentheyprovidethesteppingstoneforstudentstotransferto4-year

institutionsorprovideworkforcetraining,whichwillnotbereflectedingraduationrates.

National Center for Education Statistics

n Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Survey Analysis (U.S. Department of Education, 2019)

TheNCESStatsinBriefsurveyedU.S.statesandterritoriestoevaluatedataintegration,linking,andcapabilities.

Surveyfindingsinclude:

•DataelementsavailableinSLDSsincludestudentdemographics,gradelevel,schoolenrollmentand

completion,attendance,andstatewideassessmentdata.K–12studentdataareoperationalin96percent

ofstateandterritoryrespondents’SLDSs.

•Atleast70percentofstatesandterritoriesreportedhavingautomatedinfrastructuretolinkK-12student

datatoK-12teacherdata,post-secondarydata,PerkinsCTEdata,andearlychildhooddata.Halfreported

havingautomatedlinkstoworkforcedata.

•DataarelinkedtoK-12studentdataindifferentwaysdependingonthesector,includingbyanassigned

uniqueidentifieroraSocialSecuritynumber.ThedataelementslinkedtoK–12studentdataalsovary

dependingonthedatasector.

•StatesandterritoriesmostcommonlyreportedusingK-12studentdataforfeedbackreportsforhigh

schoolsandforstatereportsforthelegislature.

•StatesandterritoriesalsoreportedusingK-12teacherdata,post-secondarydata,workforcedata,Perkins

CTEdata,andearlychildhooddataforstatereportsforthelegislature,federalreports(suchasEDFacts),

curriculardecisions,feedbackreports,andpolicyupdates.


National Center for Education Statistics SLDS Grant Program

n P-20W+ Data Governance, Tips from the States-Brief 4

This2017publicationrecommendsthefollowinginitialstepstoestablishaP-20W+datagovernancestructure:

1. P-20W+partnersidentifyeducationpolicies,priorities,challenges,andneedsthatspanmultipleagencies.

2. PartnersdeveloptheinitialdraftoftheP-20W+datagovernancepolicy,usingtheP-20W+education

policiesasafoundationandtheinitialstepforgovernance.AuthorityforP-20W+datagovernanceshould

begrantedviaexecutiveorder,statestatute,oraspartofmemorandaofunderstanding(MOUs).Eithera

singleMOUforallpartnersoraseparateMOUforeachparticipatingagencycanserveastheadministrative

vehicleforrespondingtoP-20W+educationpolicyinitiatives.

3. StateleadershipreviewsandapprovestheP-20W+datagovernancepolicy.

4. StateleadershipincludesleadershipfromthoseagenciesparticipatingintheP-20W+system,alongwith

leadershipfromthegovernor’sofficeandlegislature.

5. Theleadershipdisseminatesthepolicytostaffandtoexecutiveandlegislativeleadership,includinga

referencetowhereitwillbeavailableelectronically.

6. TheleadershipidentifiesP-20W+datagovernanceleads,establishingthemembershipoftheP-20W+

DataGovernanceCommittee.

7. TheP-20W+DataGovernanceCommitteeusesthepolicyasthefoundationforitsP-20W+datagovernance

manual,whichdetailshowthepolicywillbeputintopractice.

Workforce Information Advisory Council

n Recommendations to Improve the Nation’s Workforce and Labor Market Information

System (Workforce Information Advisory Council, 2018)

ThisdraftreportlaysoutnationalrecommendationstotheSecretaryofLaborregardingworkforcedatasystems.

Afinalreporteitherwasnotpublishedorisnoteasilypubliclylocated.Thereportandrecommendationswere

developedthroughtheWorkforceInformationAdvisoryCouncilandincludedstakeholdersfromthe

BureauofLaborStatistics(BLS)andEmploymentandTrainingAdministration(ETA),staterepresentatives,

headsofotherfederalagencies.Therecommendationsinthereportgiveaglimpseofthedirectionofthe

federalgovernmentpertainingtoworkforceinformationsystems.Theserecommendationsinclude:

1. EnhanceUIwagedata:Includeoccupationaltitle,hoursworked,andworksite.

2. ExpandInformationonoccupations,skills,andcredentials:Includesarecommendationtoincrease

investmentsinthisarea,exploreSOCrevisions,andshowoutcomesofcredentials.

3. DevelopanddisseminateaK-12careerawarenesseducationalframework

4. Developinformationonthechangingnatureofwork:pursuearegularcollectionanddevelopmentof

informationthatprovidesanunderstandingofthescopeandvolumeofalternativeworkarrangements

orothercausesforthereductionintraditionalworkforceparticipation.


5. Increasesupportforthestates’rolesintheWLMIsystem:includeintheDOLbudgetarequestforannual

fundingtostatesfromBLSfortheFederal-StateCooperativeStatisticsSystemandfromETAforWorkforce

InformationGrants.

6. Overcomebarrierstodatasharing:enablegreateruseforworkforceinvestmentdecision-making.

7. Improveconsistencyandavailabilityofprogramevaluationdata:establishthestateWLMIunitorother

unitdeterminedbythestateasthedesignatedstateentityforprovisionofWIOA.

8. Createa21stcenturyWLMIsystemusingadvancedtechnologies:UseAIandothertechnology

advancementstoadvancethesystem.

9. InitiatecollaborationamongWLMIsystemagencies:conveneagatheringofrepresentativesfrom

federalandstateprogramstocontributeinformation.

Thereportalsoidentifiesadecliningabilityandresourceavailabilityforstatestoprovidequantityandqualityof

WorkforceLaborMarketInformation(WLMI,Page12):

“In�2017,�total�annual�federal�support�for�state-produced�labor�force�statistics�was�$104.6�million.�In�real�

(inflation�adjusted)�terms,�this�figure�is�45�percent�less�than�total�funding�in�2002�of�$189.5�million.�The��

ongoing�decline�in�real�funding�since�2002�has�led�to�reductions�in�the�quantity�and�quality�of�WLMI��

important�to�the�participants�in�the�workforce�system.�In�response�to�a�request�for�information,�a�significant�

majority�of�25�responding�state�LMI�agencies�indicate�that�they�have�reduced�the�availability�of�state�and�

sub-state�WLMI�products�and�services.�A�number�specifically�note�that,�as�a�result,�their�capacity�to�provide�

information�on�“in-demand�occupations�and�industries,”�as�required�by�WIOA,�is�diminished.”

ThereportidentifiedthatstatestendtoerronthesideofcautionwhenconsideringprovidingaccesstoUI

wagerecords,whichareobtainedbythestatesthroughstateUIprograms.Thisdataisidentifiedasimportant

toevaluatingoutcomesofeducationandtrainingprograms,suchasapprenticeships,andwerecreatedunder

federal-statecooperativeprogramsadministeredbyLabor,Education,andCommerceDepartments.States

avoidusingdataforpurposesotherthanthoseexpresslyrequiredforprogramadministrationduetouncertainty

ofclearauthoritytousethedataforspecifiedpurposesandaresponsibleapprehensionregardingtheirsecurity

whenoutsidetheircontrol.Thiscautionlimitstheavailabilityandusefulnessofthesedatasetsgreatly.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

n Job Data Exchange (JDX)

TheJDXisself-describedas“Organiclabormarketdataaboutthejobsthatareavailableandtheskills

requiredtofillthem,deliveredinreal-time.TheJDX™open-datatoolsetwillimproveanemployer’sabilityto

communicatetheirhiringneedstotheireducationandworkforcepartners.”JDXisavehicleforemployersto

movetowardcompetency-basedhiringbybreakingdownajobpostingintoamachine-readableformatand

makingthedataavailabletoeducationandworkforcepartners.Thistooliscurrentlyinapilotphase.The

U.S.ChamberofCommerceFoundationiscurrentlyseekingcollaborationwithlargeHRplatforms.(U.S.

ChamberofCommerceFoundation,JobDataExchange,2019)


n T3 Innovation Network

Inthechamber’sT3InnovationNetwork,organizationsacrossthetalentmarketplaceareworkingtogether

tobuildanopen,public-privatedataandtechnologyinfrastructureforamoreequitablefuture.Thisnetwork

isexploringemergingtechnologiesanddatastandardstobetteraligneducation,workforce,andcredentialing

datawiththeneedsoftheneweconomy.TheT3Networkwill(U.S.ChamberofCommerceFoundation,

T3InnovationNetwork,2019):

• Definewhatacompetency-basedlifelonglearnerrecordshouldbesothatalllearningcounts,

nomatterwhereittakesplace.

• Modernizetechnologyandadvancedatastandardstoachieveseamlesssharingofdatathroughout

aperson’seducationandcareerpathway.

• Empowerindividualswithavalidatedrecordoftheirskillsandcompetenciesinawaythatall

employerscanunderstand.

Thisworkrepresentsanactivenetworkofstakeholdersworkingwithinternationalstandardsbodiesand

enterpriseHRsoftwarevendors.Thecollaborationsareforminginrealtimein2019and2020,andhavea

goaltosetworkforcestandardsanddatapolicytomovecorporateAmericasothatcompaniescanhave

similarincumbentanddemandreportingmetrics.

Additional Data Resources

AdditionaldataresourcesexisttosupportSLDSresearchandintegration,including:

• Brighthive:“ABrighthiveDataTrustallowsnetworksoforganizationstosecurelyandresponsiblyshareand

collaboratewithdata,generatingnewinsightsandincreasingtheircombinedimpact.”(Brighthive,2019)

• LocalEmploymentDynamics(LED)

• LocalAreaUnemploymentStatisticsProgram(LAUS)

• QuarterlyCensusofEmploymentandWages(QCEW)fileMass-LayoffsStatisticsprogram(MLS)

• IntegratedPost-SecondaryEducationDataSystem(IPEDS)fromNCES

OVERVIEW OF MICHIGAN SLDS | 21

Overview of Michigan SLDS

General Observations

•Michiganappearstohaveatrifurcatedsystem,withoneagencyresponsiblefor

educationdata,oneresponsibleforworkforcedata,andanotherresponsiblefor

wagedata.

•Michigan’sSLDSwascreatedthroughExecutiveOrdersanddatagovernanceis

conductedthroughtheP-20AdvisoryCouncil.

•Theprocessofrequestingdataappearsdaunting,withfewsuccessstories.Thestate’s

CenterforEducationalPerformanceandInformation(CEPI)websiteindicatesthat“CEPI

isnotstaffedtohandlemostcustomdatarequests,andmanysuchrequestsmustbe

denied(CEPI,2020).”TheStateLMISIofficeindicatedthatrequestsforinformation

aboutwageswereavailableattheUIwebsite.Evenwhenalinkwasprovided,itwas

difficulttofindandlackanobvious“frontdoor”tomakedatarequests.

•Dataismanagedinafederatedsystem,whereeachdepartment,oradministrative

entitywithinstategovernmentcompiles,manages,anddetermineshowandwhenits

datawillbeshared.Federalandstatelawsregardingprotectionofindividualleveldata

(FERPA,HIPPA,EmploymentSecurityAct,etc)placestrictlimitationsonthesharing

ofdata.

•Inmanyways,Michigan’sSLDSisinlinewithmanyotherstatesandtheircapabilities.

Justifiableprivacyconcernsandlegalframeworkshaverestrictedexternallyidentifiable

optimizationofthesystemforresearchandpolicy-makingdecisions.

•FederalfundingsupportedthedevelopmentofMichigan’sSLDS,butsustainability

andmaintenancefundingsourcesarelessclear.Thispotentiallackoffundingcould

jeopardizetheunderstanding,useandgrowthofthesystem.

22 | OVERVIEW OF MICHIGAN SLDS

Governance and Structure

Michigan’sP-20LongitudinalDataSystemwascreatedwithtwoExecutiveOrders.

Executive Order 2010-15

EnactedbyGovernorJenniferGranholmandcreatedtheP-20LongitudinalDataSystemAdvisoryCouncil.

(Granholm,2010)

Executive Order 2014-6

Thisorder,institutedbyGovernorRickSnyder,laterreorganizedtheAdvisoryCouncil,definesthecouncil

membershipasincluding:

1.ThreerepresentativesnominatedbytheSuperintendentofPublicInstructionfromwithintheDepartmentof

EducationandappointedbythestateBudgetDirectorrepresentingK-12academicaffairs,K-12assessment

andaccountability,andearlychildhood.

2.OnerepresentativenominatedbytheChiefInformationOfficerwithintheDepartmentofTechnology,

Management,andBudgetandappointedbythestateBudgetDirector.

3. OnerepresentativenominatedbytheDirectoroftheWorkforceDevelopmentAgencywithintheMichigan

StrategicFundandappointedbythestateBudgetDirector.

4. OnerepresentativenominatedbythestateTreasurerfromwithintheDepartmentofTreasuryandappointed

bythestateBudgetDirectorrepresentingstudentfinancialaidprograms.

5. OnerepresentativefromwithintheStateBudgetOfficeappointedbythestateBudgetDirectortoserveas

hisorherdesignee.

6. TwelveindividualsappointedbythestateBudgetDirector,includingallofthefollowing:

a. Sixindividualsrepresentingpublicschoolsinthisstate.

b. Threeindividualsrepresentinginstitutionsofhighereducationinthisstatebutnotincluding

communitycolleges.

c. Twoindividualsrepresentingcommunitycollegesinthisstate.

d. Oneotherresidentofthisstate.

Themajordifferencesbetweenthe2010and2014ExecutiveOrdersinclude:

• IncreasedrepresentativesfromSuperintendentofPublicInstructionfromonetothree,

• Movedseveralappointmentstoanominationbythecorrespondingofficewithanappointmentfromthe

stateBudgetDirector,

• EliminatedtherepresentativefromtheEarlyChildhoodInvestmentCorporation,

• Eliminatedfour-yearterms.

P-20,inthisinstance,isdefinedaspre-schoolthroughthefourthyearofpostsecondaryeducation.Somestatesdiffer

inthisdefinition.Additionally,somestatesdefinethisworkusingP-20W+,whichincludesworkforceandbeyond.


Responsibilities of the Advisory Council

ExecutiveOrder2014-6chargedtheP-20AdvisoryCouncilwithactinginanadvisorycapacitytothestateBudget

DirectorandtheDirectoroftheCEPI,anddoingthefollowing:

1. Review,develop,andrecommendpolicies,procedures,andtimelinestobeadoptedbytheCenterfor

EducationalPerformanceandInformationforthedevelopmentandimplementationandmaintenanceofa

comprehensivelongitudinaldatareportingsystemincompliancewithstateandfederallaws.

2. Developandrecommendstateandeducationalentitymodelpoliciesrelatedtodatacollection,maintenance,

andreportingfortheP-20longitudinaldatareportingsystem,including,butnotlimitedto,allofthefollowing:

a. Storinguniquestudentidentifiersandmatchingstudent-leveldatainelementary,secondaryand

post-secondarydatasystems;

b. Reportingstudent-levelremedialcourseworkforinstitutionsofhighereducation;

c. Connectingindividualteacherdatatoteacherpreparationcolleges;

d. Ensuringtheprivacyofindividualstudentdata,includingthatastudent’sSocialSecuritynumberisnot

releasedtothepublicforanypurpose.

3. EnsurethedataintheP-20longitudinaldatareportingsystemismadeavailabletostateandlocalpolicymakers

andresidentsofthisstateinthemostusefulformatpossible.

4. ReporttothestateBudgetDirectoronrecommendedchangesinMichiganlaw.

5. OtherdutiesasrequestedbythestateBudgetDirector.

Between2010to2014,thefollowingchangesoccurred:

• The2014EOaddedmaintenanceofthesystem.

• Eliminated:Developandmaintaindatadefinitions,datatransmissionprotocols,andsystemspecificationsand

proceduresfortheintegrated,efficient,accurate,andcost-effectivetransmission,collection,andreportingof

data,includingthemovementofelectronicstudentrecords,thatarebasedonopenstandards,nonproprietary

formats,andwithoutpreferencetoaparticularmodel.

• Addedelementaryandsecondarydatasystemstotheprocessofstoringuniquestudentidentifiersand

matchingstudent-leveldata.

• ChangedreportingofrecommendedchangesinMichiganlawtothestateBudgetDirector.Thisreportingwas

previouslymadetotheGovernorandLegislature.

• The2014amendmentremovedareportingrequirementdirectlytotheGovernorandaddedtheDirectorof

CEPIasarecipientofadvisement.

ThiseffortisoverseenbythestateBudgetOffice,andthestateBudgetDirectorservesasthechair.

Overall,Michiganhasawell-definedandefficientmethodofprovidingoversightofP-20datasystems,ifall

representativesareappointed,informed,andreplacedwhenaseatisvacated.Thereareopportunitiestoexpand

thisAdvisoryCounciltomakeittruly“longitudinal”byaddingadditionalworkforcerepresentation,addingan

earlychildhoodrepresentativebackintotheappointedrepresentatives,anddefiningthegroupasproviding

oversightforP-20W+.Earlychildhoodinitiativesarecurrentlyrepresentedonthiscouncil,butbyanindividual

servingindualroles.Anappointedseatforearlychildhoodwouldensurerepresentation.


Overview of Michigan School Aid Act of 1979

TheMichiganSchoolAidActof1979isthekeypieceoflawgoverningbothdatathatisrequiredtobesubmittedby

educationalinstitutions,aswellasaccessibilityofstateeducationdatainthestateofMichigan.(MichiganSchool

AidAct,2019)

ThisActlaysoutthestateandfederalcomplianceobligationsrelatedtoeducationdataandenablestheCenter

forEducationalPerformanceandInformation(CEPI)(388.1694a).CEPIiscreatedwithintheDepartmentof

Technology,Management,andBudget(DTMB).Itcoordinatescollectionofdatarequiredbystateandfederallaw

forpreschoolthroughpost-secondaryeducation.Inaddition,thisbodycreates,maintains,andenhancesthestate

P-20longitudinaldatasystemandisresponsiblefortheweb-basedportalthatprovidesaccesstothisdata.

Accordingtothissection,thelongitudinaldatasystemrequired“Includesdataattheindividualstudentlevel

frompreschoolthroughpost-secondaryeducationandintoworkforce.”

TheActalsorequiresthatCEPI“Supportsinteroperabilitybyusingstandarddatastructures,dataformats,anddata

definitionstoensurelinkagesandconnectivityinamannerthatfacilitatestheexchangeofdataamongagencies

andinstitutionswithinthestateandbetweenstates.”

TheActrequiresthatdatabeprovidedbypreschoolthroughpost-secondarypublicinstitutions,andinsome

instances,dataisalsorequiredforprogramsavailablethroughprivatehigheredinstitutions(tuitionincentive

program).Iftheseinstitutionsdonotcomplywithsubmittingthedatarequired,fundingwillbewithheld,including

Section201funds,section236funds,andtuitionincentivefunds(individualstudenttuitionassistancethathigher

educationstudentscanqualifyforthroughqualifyinginstitutions).

AccordingtotheSchoolAidBudget,$16,356,700.00instatefundsand$193,500infederalfundswereallocated

fortheoperationsofCEPIfor2018-2019and$16,457,200instatefundsand$193,500infederalfundswereallocated

for2019-2020.Thisfundingsupportsdatacollection,datamanagement,warehousing,reporting,website,data

portalandpartnershipworkwithuniversities,ISDs,andlocals(LongitudinalSystemsinMichiganReportFeedback,

2020).Determiningprogram-levelspecificline-itemspendingisnotpossiblewithpubliclyavailablebudget

documents.Thesefundscanbecarriedforwardtofutureyears.ThesefundsareinadditiontoSLDS,WDQI,and

RacetotheTopgrantfunds.

AdditionalpointsofinterestregardingtheSLDSwithintheSchoolAidActinclude:

• RequiredtoprovideMichiganwiththeabilitytomeetfederalandstatereportingrequirements,

• Containuniqueidentifiersthatdoesnotpermitastudenttobeindividuallyidentifiedbyusersofthesystem,

exceptasallowedbyfederalandstatelaw,

• Hastheabilitytocommunicatewithhigheredsystems,

• Containsstudent-leveltranscriptinformation,includingcoursescompletedandgradesearned,


• Containsstudent-levelcollegereadinesstestscores,

• CEPImayenterintoagreementstosupplycustomdata,analysis,andreportingtootherprincipalexecutive

departments,stateagencies,localunitsofgovernment,andotherindividualsandorganizations,

• Requirescommunitycollegestoreportthenumberandtypeofassociatedegreesandothercertificates

awardedduringthepreviousacademicyear.

ThefollowingexcerptsareofparticularinterestwhenresearchingtheStateLongitudinalDataSystem:

388.1619, Sec 19 (1):Dataprovidedtothecenter(CEPI),inaformandmannerprescribedbythecenter,

shallbeaggregatedanddisaggregatedasrequiredbystateandfederallaw.Inaddition,adistrictor

intermediatedistrictshallcooperatewithallmeasurestakenbythecentertoestablishandmaintaina

statewideP-20longitudinaldatasystem.

Michigan Employment Security Act

AccordingtotheMichiganEmploymentSecurityAct,datafromtheUIagencycanbesharedincertaincircumstances,

buttheabilitytosharethisdataisrestrictedandmisuseofthedatacomeswithpenalties:

“�The�unemployment�agency�may�also�make�information�that�it�obtains�available�for�use�in�connection��

with�research�projects�of�a�public�service�nature;�for�course,�program,�or�training�program�planning,��

improvement,�or�evaluation;�for�grant�application�or�evaluation;�for�institutional�or�program�accreditation;�

for�economic�development�or�workforce�research;�for�award�eligibility;�or�for�federal�or�state�mandated�

reporting,�to�a�public�official,�eligible�educational�institution,�or�Michigan�works�agency�or�to�an�agency�of�

this�state�that�is�acting�as�a�contractor�or�agent�of�a�public�official�and�conducting�research�that�assists�the�

public�official�in�carrying�out�the�duties�of�the�office.”(MichiganEmploymentSecurityAct421.11,2019)

Thisactgoesontoindicatethatthisdatamayalsobesharedwithindependenteducationalinstitutionsina

similarmanner.


Data System FundingFundingtodevelopandsustaintheSLDSandWLDShasmainlyconsistedoffederalcompetitivegrantdollars.

AccordingtotheEducationCommissionoftheStates(EducationCommissionoftheStates,2019),theMichigan

StatewideLongitudinalDataSystemwascreatedbyExecutiveOrderNo.2010-15.ThisSLDSisacentralized

systemthatconnectsthreeofthefourcoreagencies(earlylearning,K-12,andpostsecondary)butlacksworkforce

data.FederalgrantsassistedincreationoftheMichiganSLDS,includinga2009ARRAgrant($10,624,964),a

NewBridges:BuildingMichigan’sCapacityforaLongitudinalP-20andWorkforceDataDecisionSupportSystem

($5,517,228),a2006grantinpartnershipwithMinnesotaandWisconsin($3,000,000),andaWDQIgrant

(NationalCenterforEducationStatistics,n.d.)

WorkforceDataQualityInitiative(WDQI)Grants(USDepartmentofLabor,2019)

• Funder:U.S.DepartmentofLabor,EmploymentandTrainingAdministration

• Recipient:MichiganWorkforceDevelopmentAdministration(WDA)

• Grantsawardedfordevelopmentofaworkforcelongitudinaldatasystem(WLDS)

•2012:$1,000,000

•2015:$1,088,282

•2019:$998,028

WDQIgrantsprovidedresourcestoWDAtosyncworkforcedatafromOneStopManagementInformation

System(OSMIS)andothersourcestotheUnemploymentInsuranceAgency(UIA)masterfiles.Thematching

processiscompletedusingMichigan’sMasterPersonIndex(MPI)systemtogenerateuniqueidentifiercodes(UIC)

andSocialSecuritynumbermatches,whichlinksthesameindividualinmultiplesystems(LongitudinalSystems

inMichiganReportFeedback,2020).Homeaddressandotheridentifiersforrecordscouldnotbematchedby

SocialSecuritynumbers.InformationregardingtheMPIsystemisnoteasilyaccessibleoutsideofStateoffices.

Additionalfundingmayhavebeenutilizedbythestatetosupportthesefederalawards,buttheStateofMichigan

fiscalyearbudgetsavailabletothepublicdonotcontaindetailsattributabletoindividualprogramlevelactivities.


AccordingtotheCenterforEducationalPerformanceandInformation,thisistheflowchartfortheMichiganState

LongitudinalDataSystem,circa2009.Acurrentsystemmapwasnotdiscoveredinthecourseofthisresearch.

(CenterEducationalforPerformance,October26,2019)


Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI)

TheCenterforEducationalPerformanceandInformation(CEPI)housesdataonfinance,testscores,teacher

preparation,genderandethnicity,coursesandgrades,graduationrates,collegeenrollment,freeorreduced-price

luncheligibility,careerandtechprograms,specialeducation,andgiftedprograms.TheCEPIwebsiteclaimsthat

thissystem“canspanfromearlychildhoodintotheworkforce,helpensureMichigan’spubliceducationsystemis

meetingtheneedsofallstudents.”CEPImakesthisinformationpubliclyavailableontheMISchoolDatawebsite

(https://www.mischooldata.org/).CEPIownsandmanagesboththeSLDSwithsecondaryeducationdata,andthe

StudentTranscriptandAcademicRecordRepository(MSLDS:STARR)systemwithpost-secondarydata.TheSLDS

containsrecordsfrom2003totoday,withthepurposeoftrackinghighschoolcompletionandCareerand

TechnicalEducationstatus.MSLDS:STARRcontainsrecordsfrom2009totodaywiththepurposeoftracking

post-secondarycompletions.(CenterforEducationalPerformanceandInformation,October9,2019)

MISchoolDataservesasanexcellentsourceofaggregatestatedataandincludesthecategoriesofearlychildhood,kindergarten-12thgrade,post-secondary,andworkforce.

Early Childhood

•Childcount

•Participationbykindergarten

•EarlychildhoodimpactonK-3absenteeism

•Kindergartenpathway

•Continuityofserviceinspecialeducation:servicepathways

•Continuityofserviceinspecialeducation:servicecomparisons

K-12

•Parentdashboardforschooltransparency

•Schoolindex

•Studentcount

•Studentassessment

•Careerandtechnicaleducation

•Staffinginformation

•Financialinformation

•Englishlearnerdata

•Post-secondaryoutcomesbyhighschool

•Graduation/dropoutrate

•Ourschools-ataglance

•Non-residentstatus

•Thereisanindicationthatadditionalresourcesareavailable


Post-Secondary

•Successrates

•Outcomesbyhighschool

•Collegetransfer

•Collegeundergraduateenrollment

•Datainventory(historicalrecordoffinancialeventsandinstructionalactivity)

•Collegedegreesandcertificatesawarded

•Entitylist

Workforce

•Medianwagesbyeducationalattainment

•Entrylevelwagesovertime

•Medianwagesbyfieldofstudy

•MedianannualwagesbyeducationattainmentandhighschoolCTEstatus

•AdditionalsourcesofdatacitedincludeTalentInvestmentAgency,DepartmentofTechnology,

ManagementandBudget,Pathfinder,MichiganWorks!,andMichiganTrainingConnect.

Thissystemincludes5.3millionuniqueidentificationcodes(UIC)forearlychildhood,EarlyOn(astateintervention

programfordevelopmentaldelays),andK-12datingbackto2002.Italsoincludesapproximately635,000unique

post-secondaryrecordsasfarbackas2009.(StateofMichigan-LEO,2019)Accordingtoitswebsite,MISchool

Dataalsoincludesaback-endloginforK-12personnel,collegeanduniversitypersonnel,andstateofMichigan

employees.Secureloginsallowaccesstostudentleveldatatoallowinstructorstotailorinstructionsandprograms

tobestmeetindividualneeds.(MISchsoolData,2019)

CEPIpossessesindividual-leveldatabuthasstrictlegalconstraintsonthemethodsandprocessesinwhichthis

dataissharedtoprotectprivacyandconfidentiality.Individualscanbetrackedevenpriortoenteringkindergarten

iftheyenterapubliclyfundedearlychildhoodprogram.Education-relatedindividualtrackingdoesnotoccurvia

SocialSecuritynumber.Instead,auniqueidentifiercode(UIC)isassignedandusedthroughouttheindividual’s

educationalcareer.SincetheUICdoesnottranslatetoprogramsoutsideofeducationnordoesitcarryforwardto

thepointintimewhentheindividualenterstheworkforce,SocialSecuritynumbersareusedformostothertracking

needs.AccordingtotheMichiganBureauofLaborMarketInformationandStrategicInitiatives,crosswalkshave

beenconductedusingUIC/SS,withamajorityofindividualrecordslinking.

TheCEPIwebsiteexplains:“Ifyouneednon-aggregatedataforprogramevaluationsorstudies,pleasevisittheMDE

OfficeofEvaluation,StrategicResearchandAccountabilitywebsiteoremailmde-research@michigan.gov.Rigorous

datause,storageanddestructionpoliciesmustbemetbeforedataareprovided.Confidentialdataaremaskedby

researchidentificationcodesandfilelayoutsmodifiedforresearchpurposes.Commonusersincluderesearchers

doingnationalstudiesorperformingprogramevaluationacrossseveralentitiesinMichigan.”


AnextensivelibraryofresourcesaboutthedataavailablethroughMISchoolDataandthemethodsofaccessingand

usingthisdataisavailableat:https://www.mischooldata.org/HelpAndSupport2/DemosAndGuides.aspx

InadditiontotheMISchooldatatool,CEPIdevelopedandsustainsthefollowingapplications(Michigan.gov,2019):

• EducationalEntityMaster

• FinancialInformationDatabase

• GraduationandDropoutApplication

• MichiganStudentDataSystem

• NonpublicSchoolPersonnelReport

• SchoolInfrastructureDatabase

• StudentTranscriptandAcademicRecordRepository

• RegistryofEducationalPersonnel

CEPIoffersacalendarthatidentifiesdatacollectiondeadlinesandevents.Thiscalendaroccasionallyincludestraining

opportunities.Toaccess,visit:https://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,4546,7-113-72089---,00.html

UndertheSchoolAidBill(MichiganHB4242of2019,p.218-223),CEPIisalsoallowedtoenterintoanyinterlocal

agreementsnecessarytofulfillitsfunctions.

Early Childhood Data (prenatal to age 5) and Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Accordingtothe2018StateofStateEarlyChildhoodDataSystemsreport(King,Perkins,Nugent&Jordan,2018),

Michiganfareswellincomparisonwithotherstatesregardingthedevelopmentandconnectionsofearlychildhood

datasystems.Thesedatasystemshaveaqualityratingandimprovementsystem,workforceregistry,earlychildhood

integrateddatasystem,anddatagovernancebody.ThestatelinkschilddataacrossECE(earlychildhoodeducation)

programs,withK-12datasystemsandECEprogramdata.Thestatedoesnotlinkchilddatawithhealthdata,

socialservices,orworkforcedata,butreportsthatplansareinprogresstoaddressthesethreeareas.

Michiganis1of22statesthatlinkdatabetweenallorsomeearlychildhoodeducationprograms.Michigandoes

notlinkECEprogramsdatawithworkforcedata,while15otherstatesdocreatethislinkage.Accordingtothe

BureauofLaborMarketInformation&StrategicInitiatives,theprioritizationofoutcomesforearlychildhood

programshasbeenlowerthanotheroutcomeareas.OutcomecomparisonsforstudentswithorwithoutCareer

andTechnicalEducationstudieshasbeenprioritized(LongitudinalSystemsinMichiganReportFeedback,2020).

MichiganhasstrengtheneditsearlylearningdatasystemusingaRacetotheTop-EarlyLearningChallenge

grant(RTT-ELC)phase3-2014(U.S.DepartmentHealthandHumanServices,2019).Throughthesefunds,an

EarlyChildhoodIntegratedDataSystem(ECIDS)wasdevelopedandisalignedandinteroperablewiththeMSLDS.

Thistoolwasdeveloped,inpart,withCEPIandconnectsdatawiththeMSLDSandMISchoolDatatools.


DuringtheELCgrant,CEPIscopedadesign,gaugedinterestinamultistatesolution,andinitiatedconversations

withthenationaldatasystemvendorthatmanagesChildPlus,whichisutilizedbyamajorityofHeadStart

programsacrossMichigan.In2018,grantmoneywasallocatedtoKalamazooRegionalEducationalService

Agency(RESA)toexecuteacontractbetweenKalamazooRESAandDoubleLinePartnerstocontinuethiswork.

Datacurrentlyavailablethroughthesystemismainlyfromstateandfederallysupportedprograms(childcare

subsidy,ECSE,EarlyOn,GreatStartReadinessProgram,andHeadStart)andmuchofthedataisvoluntary.Work

hasbeenaccomplishedandprogresshasbeenmadetocreatecommondefinitionsandleveragecommondata

systems,aswellasconnectwithotherstatestoensureinteroperability.

Michigan Community College Data Inventory

AccordingtotheStateSchoolAidAct-Act94of1979,388.1817,Sec.217,CEPIisalsochargedtoestablish,

maintain,andcoordinatetheMichiganCommunityCollegeDataInventory.Thisincludescollectingdataconcerning

communitycollegesandcommunitycollegeprograms,developingmodelpoliciestoensureprivacyofindividual

studentdata,providedatatoallowstatepolicymakersandcommunitycollegeofficialstomakeinformedpolicy

decisions,andworkwithotherstatsdepartmentstodevelopdemographicenrollmentprofiles.Theactalso

indicatesthatacommunitycollegedatainventoryadvisorycommitteebeformedtoprovideadvicetoCEPI.

Amongthecommittee’sresponsibilitiesisachargetoensurethedataaremadeavailabletostatepolicymakers

andresidentsinthemostusefulformatpossible.


Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce DevelopmentWorkforce Data

TheMichiganlongitudinaldatasystemsappeartohaveonemajordrawback:Alackofalongitudinalconnectionandincorporationofworkforcedatainamannerthatallowsfortheevaluationofinstitutionsandindividualprograms.

Wage Records – Unemployment Insurance Agency and Workforce Longitudinal Data System

WhileCEPImaintainsandmakesaggregatedworkforceinformationavailablepublicly,individuallevelworkforce

dataisownedbyMichiganDepartmentofLaborandEconomicOpportunityUnemploymentInsuranceAgency(UIA).

U.S.DOLETAawardedMichiganfundsin2012tocreateaconnectionbetweenworkforcedataandMichigan’s

existingeducationalstatelongitudinaldatasystem.Aworkforcelongitudinaldatasystem(WLDS)resultedandthe

stateindicatesthatitconnectsandevaluateseducationalandworkforcedata.Databaserecordsarelinked

toallowanalysisbetweeneducationandtraining,theprovisionofemploymentservices,andemploymentwithin

Michigan(DepartmentofLabor&EconomicOpportunity,October10,2019).TheUnemploymentInsurance

Agencyisrequiredtoretainwagerecordsforfiveyears,afterwhichtheypurgetheserecords.UIwagerecords

areincorporatedintoPathfinder,MichiganTrainingConnect,andMiSchoolData.org.WorkforceDevelopment

(WD)hasaccessedwagerecordssince1998.Beginninginthefirstquarterof2001,WDhasstoredtheentire

yearlywagerecordsetcollectedbyUIandsharedwithWD.Historicaldata(beyondfiveyears)inaggregateis

approvedandsuppliedbyWD.Non-aggregatedwagedatafromoverfiveyearswouldneedtobeapprovedby

WDandUI.DatawithinthemostrecentfiveyearswouldbeapprovedandsuppliedbyUI.(StateofMichigan-LEO,

December9,2019)TheserecordsonlyuseSocialSecuritynumbersfrom2008andbeyond.(StateofMichigan-LEO,

ibid)ThisdataisincorporatedintoPathfinderandMiSchoolData.org,butnotMichiganTrainingConnect.

TheUIAdoeshouseanoptiontorequestdisaggregatedwagedatatospecificindividualsforspecificuses,

butmanyoftheresearchersanddecisionmakerswhoareeligibleeitherarenotawareofthispossibilityorare

requestingdatasetsthatareunavailable.

Additional Systems of Note

One Stop Management Information System (OSMIS)

WhileOSMISappearstolackaninformationalwebsite,itisusedexclusivelybytheMichiganWorks!Agenciesas

astatewidesystemtomanagedata,includingprogramparticipantandawidevarietyofemployeeandjobseeker

data.Systemaccessishighlyrestrictedandincludesindividual-leveldataprotectedbyprivacyandconfidentialitylaws.

Asof2014,therewere3.1millionuniquerecordsinthissystem,whichconsistsofclientsofMichiganWorks!

(enrolleddislocatedworkers,DHSclients,veterans,tradeassistancemembers,migrantseasonalfarmworkers,

adultsandyouth)withdatacollectionextendingbackto1999(WLDS,2014).


Pathfinder

Pathfinderisanonlinecareerexplorationtoolthatmatcheseducationandemploymentoutcomestoprovide

outcomedataforschoolsandfieldsofstudychoices.PathfinderismanagedbytheTalentInvestmentAgency.

AccordingtothePathfinderwebsite,“Thisfreetoolusescurrentlabormarketinformation,longitudinalwage

data,andotherinstitutionaldataandmetrics,allowingimprovedskills-matchingtocareerpathsandjobs.”

(Pathfinder,2019)

Credential Engine

Accordingtoitswebsite,“CredentialEngineisanonprofitwhosemissionistocreatecredentialtransparency,

revealthecredentialmarketplace,increasecredentialliteracy,andempowereveryonetomakemoreinformed

decisionsaboutcredentialsandtheirvalue.SeveralMichiganDepartmentsareworkingwithCredentialEngine.”

(CredentialEngine,2019)

Requesting Custom or Non-Public DataLimited Options Available

Uponreviewofthewebsitesthatcorrespondtothedatasystemslistedaboveandthroughdiscussionswith

stakeholders,ithasbeenfoundthataprocessandabilitytosubmitrequestsfordataareabsentwithonlyafew

exceptions.MichiganTalentInvestmentAgency(TIA)providesafactsheetthatdescribestheprocessofrequesting

informationandrecords.(Michigan.org,2019)Aparentwebpagethatallowsanindividualtoidentifythatthis

requestprocessisavailableisnotapparent.Thisfactsheetwasonlydiscoveredaftersearchingspecificterms

relatedto“UIwagedatarequest.”

TheMichiganTalentInvestmentAgency(nowtheOfficeofLaborandEconomicOpportunity),releasedafactsheet

regardinginformationandrecordsrequestinJuly2018.(TalentInvestmentAgency,2018)Thisfactsheetpertainsto

UnemploymentinsurancedataanddescribesthecircumstancesunderwhichUIdatamaybemadeavailable.

The fact sheet indicates the following (abridged):

• Whocanrequestinformation:UImaymakeconfidentialinformationitcollectsavailabletothefollowingentities:

•Publicofficials

•Eligibleeducationalinstitutions

•MichiganWorks!agency

•ContractororagentofapublicofficialinthestateofMichigan

• Requestingandprocessingdisclosureofinformation:

•FormUIA6439,RequestforDisclosureofInformation,availableatwww.michigan.org/uia,mustbe

completed,signedandreturnedto:DisclosureofInformationCoordinator

3024W.GrandBlvd,Suite12-100

Detroit,MI48202


• Typesofinformationdisclosed:

•UImaydisclose:

-name

-SocialSecuritynumber

-grossquarterlywages

-thename,address,andfederalandstateemployeridentificationnumberoftheindividual’semployer

-otherremunerationinformation

-whetheranindividualisreceiving,hasreceived,orhasappliedforunemploymentbenefits

-theamountofunemploymentbenefitstheindividualisreceivingorisentitledtoreceive

-anindividual’scurrentandmostrecenthomeaddress

-anyotheravailableinformationinUIdatathatisconsistentwiththestatute

• Informationthatisnotavailable:

•Outofstatewagedata

•Quarterlywage/taxreports

•Informationinthestate’sdirectoryofnewhires

•Wagesfromnon-coveredemploymentsuchasindependentcontractors

•Aggregatedatareleasedtoindependenteducationalinstitutionscannotbeofthenature

thatitcouldbereasonablytransparenttorevealpersonallyidentifyinginformation(PII)

•Estimatedreports

•Federaltaxinformation

•StateTreasuryinformation

•Noinvestigativedatathatrevealsinvestigativetechnique

•Informationthatcouldreasonablybeassumedtocauseharmtoanyindividual

Independent Educational InstitutionsUIisunabletoreleaseconfidentialinformationtoanindependenteducationalinstitution.UI,attherequestofan

independenteducationalinstitution,willperformdataanalysisandprovidetheresultstotheinstitution.Before

anyanalysisisperformedaMemorandumofUnderstandingmustbesignedbetweentherequesterandUI.Any

dataanalysismustbeofsuchanaturethatnoconfidentialinformationcanbeidentified.

Thereisnoobviousfunctionorprocessdescribedforanentityorindividualtosubmitorinquireaboutarequest

fordatafromanyoftheothersystems.

AsofAugust2019,theStateLMISIOfficehasreceivedatotalof10datarequests,withfivecomingfrom

MichiganWorks!agenciesandfivefromcollegesanduniversities.Nodatarequestshavebeensubmittedfrom

otherstateagenciesorlegislators.

ConclusionsWhencomparedtootherstates,Michigan’sdatarequestprocessisdaunting.Throughthestatecomparison

process,itwasfoundthatanumberofstatesprovideclearinstructionsandinformationaboutdatalimitations

andtransparentprocesseswithobviousmethodsofsubmittingrequests.

STAKEHOLDER INPUT: CONVENING AND 1:1 DISCUSSIONS | 35

AsusersandcontributorstoMichigan’sSLDSparticipatedinourstakeholderdiscussions,theyrevealedfrustrationwithdatathatisabundantbutofteninaccessible,notuseful,orincomplete.Theirfamiliaritywiththesystemprovidedinvaluableandpracticalinsights,suchasincludingspecificdatapointsorincludingstakeholdersintheprocessofsystemdevelopment.

In2019,SLDSstakeholdergroupswereconvenedfortwofacilitatedmeetingsinNovi(October11)and

GrandRapids(November8).Morethan120individualswereinvitedtoeachofthesemeetings.Inviteeswere

identifiedbytheauthorsandthoughtleadersfromacrossthestateasindividualsfamiliarwithMichigan’sSLDS

ascontributorsorusers.

Inaddition,eightone-to-onemeetingswereconductedwithsysteminfluencerswhocontributeto,analyze,or

manageMichigan’sSLDS.Individualswhoparticipatedwerepromisedtheywouldnotbeidentifiedbynamein

thisreport,butallacknowledgedandapprovedthattheiremployingorganizationswouldbedisclosed.These

organizationscanbefoundintheacknowledgementsectionofthisreport.Intotal,41individualsprovided

feedbackingroupmeetingsor1:1sessions.

Additional Insights

TheCEPIP-20LongitudinalDataSystemAdvisoryCouncilmeetingwasheldonSeptember26,2019.Duringthis

meeting,attendedbyanauthorofthispaper,systemoverviewswereprovidedbyCEPI,theMichiganLMISIoffice,

andsmallgroupdiscussionstookplacebymeetingparticipantstoprovideCEPIfeedbackonpossibleupdatestoits

missionandvisionstatements.DraftminutesforthismeetingarepostedontheCEPIwebsite.Approximately25

peopleattendedthismeetingbetweenadvisorycouncilmembersandthoseinterestedfromthepublic,at-large.

OnNovember12,2019,theU.S.ChamberofCommerceFoundationhostedtheT3InnovationNetworkannual

meetinginChicago.Thismeetingwasattendedtolearnmoreaboutnationaleffortstoconveneinternational

standards-makingbodieswithenterprisehumanresourcesystemdevelopers.Thegoalofthisconveningworkwillbe

toestablishnationalstandardsforemployerworkforcereporting.TheT3InnovationNetworkiscurrentlyseeking

partnerorganizationsfromacademia,industry,andstategovernmentstocollaborateonresearchandbetaprojects

concerningmappingandmeasuringeducation,certificaterecognition,andworkforceoutcomes.Approximately80

peoplefromaroundtheUnitedStatesparticipatedinthismeetinganddiscussion.

Stakeholder Input: Convening and 1:1 Discussions

36 | STAKEHOLDER INPUT: CONVENING AND 1:1 DISCUSSIONS

Observations from Convenings in Novi and Grand Rapids, MichiganEmployersandbusinessassociationsareinterestedandactivelyinvolvedintalentpipelinedevelopment,asis

evidencedby45employersparticipatingintheTalentPipelineManagementprogramandheavyinvolvement

inMICareerQuest.Butthesestakeholdersdesirebetterdataabouttheireffortstoensurethebestreturnoninvestment.

Specifically,theywantdatathattrackstheparticipantsoftheprogramstheydevelopandinvestin,togauge

efficacyandevaluateiftheyaremakingprogressregardingtheoccupationstheyemploy.Datacollectionshould

behappeningateach“gate”(variouslogicalmeasurementpointsinprimary,secondary,andpost-secondary

education),andayieldrateshouldbedevelopedtoassesshowmanypeopleendupintheoccupationsemployers

aredemanding.Participantsexpressedinterestinthestateestablishingthisadditionaldatainfrastructure.

Identifying Shortcomings

ThestatehasdescribeditsSLDSas“best-in-class,”butstakeholdersdisagreedwiththisassessment.Themessage

thatcanbegleanedfromMiSchoolDataisthateducationequalsabetterjobwithbetterwages,butthereisvery

littlethatcanbeassertedbeyondthisfactwiththelevelofgranularityofthedata.Thegroupswantedprogrammatic

impactinformationaroundemploymentwagesandtobeabletoassessifprogramsaremeetingthesupplyand

demandneedsacrosstheregionsofthestate.Severalstakeholdersexpressedthattheyaredisappointedsuch

high-stakesdecisionsarebeingmadeusing“incomplete,faulty,andnotcontextualizeddata.”Limitationsofthe

dataneedtobebetterunderstood.Datacollection,definitions,andstandardsvarydrasticallyacrossthehundreds

ofinstitutionsacrossthestatecollectinginformation.

Afewstakeholdersindicatedtheyhavesubmittedrequestsforeducationorworkforcedatatothestatebuthave

notreceivedusefulresponses.Severalindicatedtheyhavebeenmoresuccessfulgettingdatafromworkforce-

focusednonprofitsandotherintermediaries.BothfocusgroupsindicatedthatTalent2025andtheWorkforce

IntelligenceNetworkplaykeyintermediaryrolesforeducation,post-secondaryandeconomicdevelopers.Both

organizationsprovideeasyaccesstodataiftheyhavethemeansandaccess.

ParticipantsinbothgroupsindicateddisappointmentinthedefundingoftheMIBrightFutureprogram,whichis

viewedasakeylinkbetweenemployerneedsandstudentcareerexploration.Ofthosefocusgroupparticipants

engagedwithcareerplanning/developmenttools,onlyafewwerefamiliarwithPathfinder.Mostusedeither

NavianceorXello.

Eachgroupindicatedtheneedforpartners,translators,orsomeformofintermediarytointerpretandprovide

assistance(technicalornavigationfocused)toassistunderstandingandproperlyusingavailabledata.

Therewasacommonchorusthatdataisplentiful,butthosewiththedatahaveadifficulttimesynthesizingitandmakingituseful.


Iftheendusersofthedataarenotconsideredinthedesignprocessofthedatasystembuildandcollection,

thevalueandusefulnessofthedatadeclinesdrastically.Severalparticipantsusedthephrase“datarich,

informationpoor.”

Withfewexceptions,focusgroupparticipantsindicatedtheleveloftrustinlongitudinaldataisnothigh.Thiswas

explainedasavariationinunderstandingofdatadefinitionsamongthosewhocontributedata.Integrityofthe

informationisimpactedwhenchangesinthedataarerequiredfromyeartoyear.Participantsindicateditwasnot

duetoalackoftrustinthetechnicalwaythedatasystemsoperate.Alackofdataliteracywasidentifiedasa

majorobstacleandtheterm“garbagein,garbageout”wasreferencedinbothconvenings.Recentpositive

progresswascited,butparticipantsfelttremendousopportunityforimprovementexists.Participantsindicated

thatiflongitudinaldataisdevelopedandpastdatapointsareused,theydon’ttrustthedatabecauseitisoften

notanexactmatchforthemeasurethathasbeencreated.

ItwasobservedthatdevelopmentofSLDSisoftendevoidofengagementwithstakeholders.Stakeholdersalso

expresseddisappointmentinthelackofdatatobackupcertainpolicydecisionssuchasthirdgradeliteracylaws.

Theyrecommendedthatpolicychangesshouldnotbemadeusingdatathatisabsentorinvalid.

Expressed Interest of Stakeholders

•Dataformoreoccupationsthanjustthosethatare“highwage.”Participantsspecificallyexpressedaninterest

indatapertainingtoteachersandpointedatthestatewideteachershortageanduseoflong-termsubstitutes

asanimpetusforthisdata.

•Dataforexperientiallearningprogramssuchasapprenticeshipsandjobshadowinginordertoevaluateand

makedecisionsormakethecaseforpost-secondaryeducationpathsoutsideoftraditionalcolleges.

•Moredetailineducationandwagedatatomakeassessmentsaboutwhethereducationwasrelevanttothe

careerspeopleendedupin.

•Projectiondatawithabilitytonarrowtohyper-localgeographies,includingoccupationalopenings,wagedata,

projectednumberofretirementsvs.openings.Thiswouldbeusedtoidentifyemergingindustriesandareasof

focuswherehiringwilllikelybehappening.

•Retentiondata.

•Workforcedemanddataforskilledtrades.

•Completeandaccuratelicensingdatathatcanalsobeusedtomeasureretentionandcompleters.LARAshould

becontributingdatatotheSLDSand1099datashouldbeintegratedintoSLDS.

•Datawithreducedlagtimes,especiallygraduationdata.IfgradeshavetobeinbyJune,whydoesittakeuntil

thefollowingyearforthattobeavailable?

•Communitytrustwasidentifiedasanimportantfactorindatasystemwork.Onestakeholderindicatedwhite

papersareinprogresstoaddressthistopic.Theresearchwillindicatethatsocietyshouldmoveawayfromrigid

modelsandworktowardnetworkdatasharing.

•ConnectpubliclyaccessibledatafeedswithAPIstoopendataplatforms.


•Transferandlinkageofcredentialsforwork-basedlearningdata.

•Employerrepresentativesindicatedtheywantbetterforecastingofoccupationaldata.Thisincludedarequest

formappingoftheprogramsthataredevelopingknowledge,skillsandabilitiesthatcanfeedemployers.

•Specialeducationprogrammingwithlongitudinalentryandexitinformation.Thestakeholdersindicatedthis

isneeded,buttheyexpressedstrongconcernsforoverburdeningschoolswithreportingrequirements.

•Postgraduatedataat1-and5-yearpoints.Also,longer-termmetrics,10-and15-yearoutcomes.

•2-5yearforecastofpost-graduationtalentandmetricforITskills.

•Analysisofgraduatingstudentsnotgoingtocollege,andwheretheylandintheworkforce.

•Datatouncoverreasonsstudentsdon’tfinishcollege.

•Skillsetsinhigh-demandfields.

•Programoutcomesfor:

•Adultbasiceducation

•Employmentsupportprograms

•Betterdatasharingbetweenstatedepartments.

•Dataforvariouseducationpaths,includingemployerpathways.

•Employmentandwageoutcomesbyprogramandinstitutiontoidentifybestpracticesforfour-year

degreesandcredentials.

•Amarketplaceofdatasources:MatchingoftheMasterPersonIndexwithONET,includingmicro-credentials

availableonanonopenmarketthatcanbelinkedtoanindividual.Suggestedlinkinglibrarieswiththiscapability.

•Achartthatidentifiesalleducationmandatesandwhetherthosemandatesarefunded,andtimetocomplete

mandateswithintheschoolyear.Thiswillalloweducationinstitutionstoassesswhethertimeanddollarsare

availableafterallmandatesaremettosupportliberalartseducation.

Opinions of Identified Data SystemsPathfinder

StakeholdersidentifiedthatPathfinderhasaplethoraofunderlyingdatathatisfedintothistool,butthoughtthe

toolitselfisunderutilizedandnotwellmarketed.Inonesession,onlytwoorthreepeoplewerefamiliarwiththe

tool,andmosthadapooropinion.Thegroupsdidnotbelievethisfitthedefinitionofalongitudinaltool,but

thosefamiliarsawopportunitythathasyettobetapped.Itisdifficultforinstitutionstonegotiateaccesstothe

data.Labormarketoutcomesareneeded,anditwouldbenefitfromanimproveduserinterface.

Uponfollow-upwithLEO-WD,theofficesharedthatanAPIforPathfinderisbeingcreatedbywhichincluded

institutionsandproviderswillbeabletoapplyforakeytodownloadtheirinstitutionaldata(LongitudinalSystems

inMichiganReportFeedback,2020).


Credential Engine

SomestakeholdersexpressedinterestandexcitementoverthepotentialofwhatCredentialEngineisdoing,but

mostindicatedthatwhatisbeingpromisedisnotsomethingthatcanbedelivered,especiallyfromanational

organizationinafar-reaching,nationalmanner.Thevastnumberofexistingindustrycredentialscausedconcern

amongfocusgroupparticipants,withsomesharingconcernsabouttheefficacyoftheinitiative.Theindustries

thatarebeingaskedforinformationortoprovideinputusuallystrugglethemselveswithidentifyingwhat

credentialstheyshouldrequire.Thiswillleadtomultinationalorganizationshavingsignificantlymoreinfluence

onthetopicbecausetheyaremoreorganized.

FeedbackfromtheStateLEO-WDofficegarneredadditionaldetailsoftheCredentialEnginework.Theoffice

indicated“LEO-WD’sworkoverthelast18monthshasbeenfocusedonstateeffortstoensurequalified

educationandtrainingandtalentdevelopmentthroughassistancetootherfederalandstatedepartmentsthat

offerindividualcredentialsandlicensure.WearepartneringwithUSDOL,LARA,DIF,MDE,DOS,EGLE,andDTMB

intheproject(LongitudinalSystemsinMichiganReportFeedback,2020).”Inthesamecommunication,LEO-WD

sharedthefollowingactivitiesandinformation:

•LEO-WDhaspublishedtheHighSchoolEquivalency(HSE)credentialandisworkingonanAdultEd(AE)

partneroutreachplanfortheuploadsbyindividualAEprovider.

•TheMichiganDepartmentofEducation,OfficeofCareerandTechnicalEducation(OCTE)hasdefined53career

andtechnicaleducationdescriptions.LEO-WDisworkingonasecondaryCTEpartneroutreachplanforthe

uploadsbyindividualprovider.

•MDEwillsoonpublish3+typesofHighSchoolDiplomas–(MME,STEM,CTEendorsements).

•LEO-WDinpartnershipwithDTMBiscreatinganAPIconnectiontouploadcredentialinformationtothe

Registryforsecondaryandpostsecondaryeducationpartners,including:

•Colleges,highschoolsandCTEsubmissionstoMDE/CEPI

•AdultEdsubmissionstoMAERS

•ProprietaryandprivatepostsecondaryinstitutionstoMiTC

•ACredentialEnginesystemadaptationwasrecentlyapprovedtoallowthird-partyaccountcreation,as

LEO-WDisuniquelypoisedtodothemajordataliftforamajorityofitseducationalpartnerswiththischange.

DTMBAgencyServiceshavebeenabletorecentlyassignstafftothisprojectunderCredentialEngineand

WLDSgrantfunding.

•LEO-WDisworkingwiththeUSDOLMichiganOfficeofApprenticeshipandmanyofthelaborunionsto

identifycredentialsthatareimbeddedinRegisteredApprenticeshipprogramsandgetthemlistedonthe

MichiganTrainingConnect,whichmakesthoselearningopportunitieseligibleforfederalfundingandinclusion

intheGoingPROmarketingcampaign.


Additional General Stakeholder Statements•TheUnitedWay’s“AssetLimited,IncomeConstrained,Employed”(ALICE)reportwasidentifiedasanexample

oftrulylongitudinaldatasystemthatcouldbereplicated.

•Educationiscurrentlydrivenbythewantsanddesiresofstudents,notbythedemandorexpecteddemand

ofthemarketplace.

•Real-timetalentsupplyanddemandinformationislacking.ThereisdataavailablethroughEMSI,butIPEDS

andBLSdatalagsandlacksbroadaccuracy.

•Supplyanddemandinformationprovidedseveralyearsagowasusefulinmakingthecaseaboutdecision

makingineducation,butitisnowoutdated.

•Hands-oneducationhasdeclinedduetotheincreaseinrequirementstoteachothertopics(AlgebraIIwas

cited).TheMichiganMeritCurriculumhassentthemessagethatallstudentsneedtogeta4-yeardegree.

•Somestakeholdersindicatedinterestinfee-for-service data requests,andanestimateoftotalcost,for

supportingdatarequests.Therewassomediscussionofsupportforthesecoststhroughstateappropriations,

third-partyrequestors,orfromfoundationfunders.

•Thereisanimportanteconomic development aspecttotheSLDS.Siteselectorsareinterestedinlaborforce

numbersovertime.Economicdevelopmentandthebusinessestheyarerecruitingandtryingtoretainwantto

knowiftherewillbeenoughpeopleandiftheywillbeadequatelytrained.Thecurrentrecruitmentapproach

istypicallytopoachtalentfromotherbusinessesratherthangrowtalent.

•FocusgroupparticipantscitedtheFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) asthegreatest

hurdletoaccessingdata,withtheHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)also

protectingsensitivedata.Afeworganizationshavebeenabletoovercometheprivacyissuesbyhavingbeen

retainedasan“agentofthestate.”Buttheseorganizationsareonlyabletoconductresearchinareasthatthey

arespecificallyrequestedtoworkandtheresultinginformationiskeptconfidentialtostayincompliancewith

thefederallaws.Michigan’s Employment Security Actwasalsocitedasprotectingwagedata.

•Employersdesiretransparencyandaccountabilityregardingtheeffectivenessofeducation.Thiswasdescribed

asadesireforoutcomesmeasuresforhighschoolaswellascollegestudentsadecadeaftergraduation,

conductedandreleasedbyathirdparty,independentorganizationorgovernmentaccountabilityoffice.

Outcomesmeasuresarecurrentlycompiledandreleasedbycolleges,whohaveavestedinterestindistributing

datathatpositivelyreflectstheinstitution.Certificationandapprenticeshipsshouldalsobeincludedinthis

outcomesinformation.

•National Student Clearinghousewascitedasanationalsystemthattracksstudentswhohaveleftorentered

thestate.Whilethisisaneffectivedataexchangesystem,statesmayvaryindatadefinitionsormethodsof

datacollection.

•Accordingtoparticipants,thereisno workforce data certification or standards body. Thereisaconcern

aroundthedigitalskillsneededandwhethereducationinstitutionsareprovidingeducationthatmeetsthisneed.

CredentialEnginewasmentionedasanorganizationthestateisstartingtoworkwith,butseveralparticipants

indicateddoubtregardingtheabilityofthisorganizationtofulfillitsscopeofworkinauseablemanner.


Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce Development Discussion

Workforce(UIwagedata)isnowaccessibletoeligiblepartners(communitycolleges,universities,MichiganWorks!

agencies),butisnotavailabletothirdpartiesduetoconfidentialityandprivacyregulations.Therehasbeenone

instanceinwhichathirdpartyhasbeenabletoattaintheworkforcedata:thethirdpartywasworkingonbehalf

ofaneligiblepartnerinordertoanalyzethedataontheirbehalf.Theeligiblepartnerwasrequiredtosignoffon

thesharingofthisdataandstrictruleswereputinplaceregardingtheuseofthedata.

TheaccesspointfordatarequestsistheUnemploymentInsuranceAgencywebsite.Becausetheyhavethelargest

numberofrecordsoverthehighestamountofyearsandittechnicallyownsthedata,itistheinitialaccesspoint

forrequests.

Michiganhasafederatedlongitudinaldatasystem.Thedatamustbeprovidedtotheofficeconductingresearch

frommanydifferentagenciesandallagenciesmustapprovetherequestfordata.Dataisnotprovidedunless

researchisrequired.TheLMISIofficehasacrosswalktobeabletomatchamajorityoftheindividualrecords

acrossdatasetsusingSocialSecuritynumbers,UniqueIdentifiersCodes,andotherindicators.Amajorityofrecords

areabletobematched.PotentialpartnersinWLDSprojectsincludeLMISI,CEPI,DepartmentofTreasury,LARA,

DepartmentofStateandMDE.LMISIprovidesresearchserviceswhenneeded.Thisstructureandnational/state

dataregulationslimitinternalstateresearchprojectsandeliminatethepotentialofresearchbynon-stateentities.

SeveraldepartmentsoftheStateofMichiganhaveworkedsince2012todevelopthesystemusingmostly

federalgrantdollars.TheLMISIoffice(partofDTMB)hasreceivedQEWIfunds.TheDepartmentofEducation

hasdevelopedCEPIthroughSLDSgrants(muchlargergrantawards).

Barriers

Barrierstodataaccessinclude:

•Misconceptionsaboutthetypeofdataavailable.

•Slowdevelopmentofthedatarequestprocess.

•HB4545,whichgrantedaccesstotheeligiblehighereducationpartners,requiresthestateLMISIofficeto

signallMOUstoprovideaccess/grantdatarequests.ThelegalprocessforthiswasnotinplacewhenHB4545

passedandhasbeendifficulttoinstitute.

•Staffinglevelsarenotonparwiththeamountofworkrequiredtofulfillspecificandtime-consumingdata

requestsfromrequestors.

•TheLMISIofficedoesnotcurrentlyhaveaccesstodatapertainingtoself-employmentbuthasahighlevelof

interestinincorporating,ifpossible.


TheLMISIofficeindicatedtherewouldbevalueinconveningorgettingalleligiblepartnerstoagreetoaset

datarequest.Ifallpartiesagreed,theLMISIofficewouldbeabletoproduceanddistributeasetreporttoeach

institutioninatimeliermanner.

TheLMISIofficeindicatedadditionaldatafromemployerswouldbeofhighvalue.Helpfulnewdatacould

include:occupation(perhapstiedtoONETclassifications),jobtitle,andnumberofaverageweeklyhours

thepersonworked.

1:1 MeetingsUniversities

TheUniversityofMichiganandMichiganStateUniversityhavedevelopedinstitutesthatserveasagentsofthe

stateofMichiganforlongitudinaldataresearchcapacity.Stakeholderconversationsrevealedthatbothsystems

encounterchallengesinmatchingdata,asindividual(federated)statedepartmentsarenotequippedwiththe

availablecapacitytodoso.Michiganhasastrongproprietaryrelationshiptodata.Atleastonestakeholderindicated

thestatedoesnothavethecapacitytoconductthedataworkdesired.Stakeholderswouldliketoseethestate

shiftawayfromfear-baseddecision-making,andseekaculturalshifttowardcollaborationandtransparency.

Bothuniversityofficeshavenegotiatedextensivedatasharingagreementswiththestateandareabletoreceive

individuallevelstatedataforsecondaryandpost-secondaryeducation.Theresearchconductedattheseinstitutionsis

directedbytheMichiganDepartmentofEducation,withtopicareaslimitedtoonlythosespecificallyrequestedby

thestateadministratorsthatarepartofthedatasharingagreement.

TheUniversityofMichiganYouthPolicyLab(UMYPL)isanappliedresearchcenterhousedwithintheInstitute

forSocialResearch(ISR),whichstartedin2016.UMYPLispartofadatapartnershipbetweenMichiganState

UniversityEducationPolicyInnovationCollaborativeandCEPI.ISRhasapendingdata-sharingMOUwiththe

MichiganUnemploymentInsuranceAgency(UIA).Themainfocusofthispendingresearchisimpactanalysis

andprogramevaluationforpost-secondaryeducation.

TheMichiganStateUniversityEducationPolicyInnovationCollaborative(EPIC)isastrategicresearchpartnerwith

theMichiganDepartmentofEducation.EPICisanexternal,quasi-independentevaluatorforMDE.Researchtopics

includeteacherpipelineresearchandaReadbyGradeThreepartnership.AnMOUisinplacebetweenEPIC,MDE,

andCEPI,withEPICservingasanagentofthestate.Workisentirelyclientdriven,withresearchrestrictedto

requestsfromthestateagency,theGovernor,ortheLegislature.UnderFERPA,thereisastudyexceptionanda

programevaluationexception,whichallowsuseofdisaggregatedstudentdata.Duetofederalregulations,all

studentleveldatamustcomethroughMDE.CEPIcollectsandholdsthisdata,butMDEisstilltheowneranddata

canonlybereleasedatthedirectionofMDE.EPICisalsoinitsinfancy,withonly3yearsofexistence.Whilethere

isadesirebyEPICpersonneltolinkCEPIdatawithUIandLARA,itwouldrequirearequestfromMDEand

approvalfromtheGovernor’sofficeforthistooccur.


Seeing a Need for Access

Stakeholdersinthe1:1meetingssharedthatinformationabouttheprocesstorequestandattaindataiscloseto

non-existent.TheysaidthatLMISIisthemosttransparent,butarelationshipmustbebuilt,andnoactiveobvious

pointofaccessexists.UIAdataistiedtobothaccessandownershipissuesanditisdifficulttodeterminethe

processandaccesspointofrequestingthisdata.CEPInowhasanaccesspointthroughMISchoolData,butthis

hastaken10yearstodevelopanditstruggleswithmatching/linkingofdatatoanyotherdatasources.

TheUpjohnInstituteistheonlyknownorganizationoutsideofstateagenciestobegrantedaccesstoUIAdata

forresearchpurposes.MOUsarependingwithafewstateuniversities,butarenotyetfinalized.

Agroupofphilanthropyorganizations,includingtheRalphC.WilsonJr.Foundation,TheBallmerGroup,

JPMorganChase,TheSkillmanFoundationandtheMcGregorFundarecurrentlynegotiatingagrantforthe

MichiganDepartmentofTechnology,Management,andBudgetthatwilllinkindividualdatatoUIdatasolabor

marketoutcomescanbetrackedovertime,alongsideotherdatafromeducationandothersources.Thedata

cannotbereportedbackonindividuals,butcanbeaggregateforcohortsizesof10peopleorgreater.Thegrant

ispendingapprovalfromfundersin2020.

The Employer Perspective

Employer-focusedstakeholdersindicatedadesiretoassesstheeffectivenessoftheirtrainingprogramsandtalent

pipelineactivities.Interactionswiththesegroupsalsoindicatedanopennesstodiscussingtheadditionofoccupa-

tionalinformationtoUIforms,especiallyifitisrequestedonavoluntarybasis.

During1:1stakeholderconversations,itwasdiscoveredthattrackingofindividualUIdataisnotonlydifficultto

attainbyexternalorganizationsduetoprivacyrequirements,butthedatacanonlybereceivedonceandcannot

bekept.IfSocialSecuritynumbersareknown,UIdataexistsandisretrievable–ifaccessisgained.Thisincludes

whetherornotapersonworked,andtheamountearnedinthatquarter,byeducationinstitution.Dataforthe

pastfiveyearsisalsoavailableonindividualswhogetmoneyfromMichiganWorks!Agenciesandhighereducation.

Subjectmatterexpertsindicatethat10-yeardatawouldbemuchmoreuseful.Non-stateprogramsdonothave

thistypeofdataavailable,butthereismovementtomakedataavailabletocomplementarygrantees.

Somestakeholdersexpressedadesireforaccurateandwell-constructedforecasting,withanindicationthat10

yearsofpastdatawouldallowformoreaccurateforecastingmodels.Withoutlongtermdata,assessmentscannot

bemadethatincludesecondorlaterjobsovera40-yearcareer.Thiscantellamuchmorecompellingstoryabout

theoutcomesofeducationandprogramsthanaone-yearpostgraduationstatistic.

Stakeholdersalsoexpressedadesireformoretrainingproviderstocontributedatatothesystemandfordatato

beavailablebyprogram,notjustbyinstitution.TheinstitutionsthatcurrentlyprovidedatatotheSLDSareprimarily

formaleducationinstitutions,notprivateintuitionsthatdonotreceivefederalorstatefunding.

44 | BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

Best Practices from Across the United States

WashingtonTheStateofWashingtoncreatedtheEducationResearchandDataCenter(ERDC)in2007throughalegislative

bill.Thesystemwasinitiallyfocusedonlyontrackingstudentprogressandtransitionsthroughschooltoimprove

studentoutcomes.In2009,ERDC’smissionexpandedtoincludeseveraldatagovernanceresponsibilities,

identifycriticalresearchandpolicyquestions,andmonitorandevaluatedatacollectionsystems.Grantsfromthe

DepartmentofEducationandDepartmentofLaborledtoonlinefeedbackreports,improvingthefunctionality

andstandardizationoftheERDCdatawarehouse,andtheinclusionofworkforceprogramsthatallowedfor

trackingworkforceparticipantstoschoolandbacktotheworkforce.ItappearsthatERDConlytracksparticipants

whohavetouchedtheworkforcedevelopmentprograms,andisnotabletoconnectwithworkforcedatasystems.

ERDCalsorunsthreecommittees:

•DataStewardsCommittee

Ensuresthatthedataiscorrectlyunderstoodandusedcorrectly.

•DataCustodiansCommittee

Ensuresthatthedataisdeliveredandprotected.

•ResearchandReportingCoordinationCommittee

Ensuresthattherightquestionsarebeingaskedtoaddresstheimportantpolicyconsiderationsoftoday.

SLDS Data and Process

SLDSdataandinformationisavailablethroughtheEducationResearch&DataCenter(ERDC).ERDCservesasa

portalforeducationdata.

Eachreport,dashboard,orvisualontheERDCincludesan“aboutthisreport”section,whichexplainsthedefinitions,

methodology,andvariablespriortoamemberofthepublicaccessingthereport.Astatewidereportanda

contractorreportareavailable,butthecontractorreportispassword-protected.ERDCinformationoftencites

theexpectedusersofthedataandthequestionsthatcanbeansweredusingthedata.TheERDCincludesarobust

setofreportsusingtheirSLDSdata.Datasetsvaryregardingtheamountofdatalag,butmostdashboardsappear

tobeupdatedin2017orlater.ERDCincludesmentionofanMOUthatissignedbyalleducationandworkforce

datacontributors,whichincludesasetofprinciples.

AlthoughmoststateshaveanSLDSinplace,notallhavedevelopedequally.

Withaminimallevelofnationalstandards,stateshavebeenlefttodevisetheir

ownbestpractices.Severalareacknowledgedtobeleadersinthisarena,due

totheircommitmenttoaccessibility,dataprivacy,soundgovernance,agency

collaborationandotherbest-in-classcharacteristics.

BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES | 45

WA

KYVA

ThestatesofWashington, Virginia, andKentuckyareidentifiedasbest practice statesduetotheirabundantreferencesinmultipleliteraturereviewmaterials.

Datarequestprocess:

•Washington’sERDCidentifiesarobustexplanationofthedatarequestprocess,includingtheprocessfordata

requeststhatinvolveredisclosure(individuallyidentifiabledata)vs.noredisclosure(aggregateddata).This

includeslinkstorequestformsande-mailaddressesusedtosubmit.Alistofimportanttermswithdefinitionsis

alsoincluded.Alistofalldatarequestssubmittedincludingrequestorname,datesubmitted,topic,producttype,

authorizationpath,decision,andwhethertherequesthasbeenfulfilledisavailableonthewebsite(https://

erdc.wa.gov/data-resources/data-requests-0).AsofOctober29,2019,twenty-ninerequestshadbeenmadefor

thecalendaryear2019,with5denied,6pending,andtheremainingfulfilledfullyorpartially.

•WashingtonusedanSLDSgranttoadoptamoreeffectiveprocessforcollectingstudent-levelcredential

attainmentdatafromprivatecareerschools(PCS)thatgrantcertificates.WashingtonhasaWorkforce

TrainingandEducationCoordinatingBoard(WTECB)thathasbeenattemptingtocollectthisdatainvoluntary

andnon-standardizedmethodsforyears.PriortotheSLDSgrant,WTECBengagedwiththeNorthwest

FederationofCareerColleges(thePCSregionalTradeAssociation)tosetdatarequirementsandadoptregulations

requiringPCStoannuallytransmitstudent-leveldata.Thisdatawastransmittedinmanydifferentformsand


methods.TheSLDSgranthelpedWashingtondevelopastudentdataportaltocollectdatafromPCS,including

standardizedcodesandprogramtitles.ThisincludesautomaticerrordiscoveryandalinkagebetweenPCSdata

andwagerecordsandotherdatasets.Studentoutcomescanbemeasuredwiththisresource.Theoutcomes

informationistransmittedtotheERDCandincludedinworkforceprogramreports.(Levantoff,2019,p.6)

•WashingtonhasreceivedWDQIandSLDSgrants.InJuly2012,theWashingtonStateERDCusedARRAStatewide

LongitudinalDataSystemsGrantdollarstofundanEmploymentDataHandbookthatprovidesguidancetoother

statesforconnectingeducationandemploymentdata.TheHandbookrecommendsconnectingUIprogram

data.Washingtonemployersarerequiredtoprovideadditionaldatabeyondthefederallyrequireddataset,

includinghoursworked.Alaskaalsoincludesarequirementforoccupationoftheemployeesreported.Additional

workforcedatasystemscanbeusedtocreateamorecompletepicture,includingtheFederalEmploymentData

ExchangeSystem(FEDES),WageRecordInterchangeSystem(WRIS),AdministrativeDataResearchandEvaluation

(ADARE),andLocalEmploymentDynamics(LED).(Education,ResearchDataCenter,2019)

AsofAugust1,2019,Washingtonpassedsevenofthe29billsintroducedinstategovernmentaddressingdata

quality.Thestateconsideredabilltoexpandexistingprivacylawgoverningschoolserviceproviderstocoverall

servicesusedinschools,whetheroriginallyintendedforthatpurposeornot.Thesecoveredplatformsusedforin

classroomsbutnotdesignedforthatpurpose(DQC2019EducationDataLegislationReview).

VirginiaAccordingtotheCommonwealthofVirginia’swebsite:

“�The�Virginia�Longitudinal�Data�System�(VLDS)�is�a�powerful�tool�for�Virginia’s�future,�giving�the��

Commonwealth�an�unprecedented�and�cost-effective�tool�for�extracting�and�analyzing�insightful��

education�and�workforce�development�data�within�a�secure�environment.”�The�VLDS�is�a�federated��

system�and�touts�a�“double�deidentifying�hashing�process�that�leaves�private�data�behind�existing��

firewalls�of�the�participating�agencies.�This�technology�was�developed,�in�partnership�with�VLDS��

participating�agencies,�almost�entirely�with�in-state�resources�including�Virginia�Tech,�Virginia��

Information�Technologies�Agency�(VITA)�and�Center�for�Innovative�Technology�(CIT).”�(VLDS,�2019)

EachparticipatingagencyisavotingmemberoftheVLDSDataGovernanceCouncil,whichmeetsmonthlyto

discussresearch,challenges,andsystemgrowthandtomakedecisionsaboutVLDSpolicyandprocedureona

consensusbasis.(NationalSkillsCoalition,SayingYestoLongitudinalData,2019)

ABookofDataGovernanceisidentifiedasareferenceguideforstakeholders,identifyingstructureanddefiningthe

majorrolesofthedatagovernancecouncilandtechnical,legislative,communications,andresearchsubcommittees.

Whilethestructurefordatagovernanceandresearchprocessappeartobethesameforallagenciesunderthe

VLDS,eachagencyappearstohaveahighlevelofautonomy,includingresearchagendas,andtheirowndatasets.


Virginiadoesnotoperateusingadatawarehouse.Instead,agencydataremainswiththeagencythatcollected

andownsit.ThereisnologincapabilitytoVLDS.Accordingtothewebsite:

“�Data�requests�can�only�be�made�by�vetted�researchers�who�have�completed�an�application�process�and�

whose�research�questions�have�been�reviewed�and�validated�by�VLDS�participating�agencies.�Then,�all��

researchers�within�the�system�are�assigned�a�committee�of�agency�“sponsors”�who�guide�and�oversee��

the�process�—�all�in�the�name�of�accuracy�AND�privacy.�Each�step�along�the�way,�from�access�request�to�

publication�of�results,�must�be�approved�by�the�researcher’s�sponsoring�agency.”

Thereisverylittledescriptionofallofthevariousformsofdatathatmightbeavailable,optinginsteadforexternal

researcherstoalignwithindividualdepartmentresearchprioritiesandbesponsored.

InterestingresearchandfindingsaresharedviaablogontheVLDSwebsite.Thereisnopublic-facingdataother

thanthedatasharedintheseblogs.Thepublicisnotabletolookupaggregateddata,asstakeholdersareableto

doinotherstates,includingMichigan.

Data-contributingstateagenciesincludetheVirginiaDepartmentofEducation(VDOE),theStateCouncilofHigher

EducationforVirginia(SCHEV),theVirginiaEmploymentCommission(VEC),theVirginiaDepartmentofSocialServices

(VDSS),theVirginiaCommunityCollegeSystem(VCCS),theVirginiaDepartmentforAgingandRehabilitative

Services(DARS),andVirginiaDepartmentofHealthProfessions(DHP),VirginiaDepartmentfortheBlindandVision

Impaired,VirginiaDepartmentofJuvenileJustice,andtheOfficeofChildren’sServices.Twonon-governmental

organizations,VirginiaGoodwillNetworkandVirginiaEarlyChildhoodFoundation,arealsomembers.

(NationalSkillsCoalition,SayingYes…,ibid)

Virginiahasarobustprocessforarticulatingapprovedcredentialsforcreditandbuildingstackablecareer

pathways.Credentialsareincorporatedthatmeettheparametersdevelopedorendorsedbyemployers.These

credentialsarewidelyrecognizedandserveasproofofacquiredskillsthroughthirdpartytesting.Thisprocess

isledbytheVirginiaCommunityCollegeSystem(VCCS).(Levantoff,Measuring…,2019)

EstimatedcostsofVirginia’sfederatedsystemnear$7.5milliontoplanandbuildVirginia’sSLDS,with

approximately$6.75milliondedicatedtosoftwaredevelopmentandintegrationservices,$450,000forstaff

services,$300,000forhardware,and$75,000forsoftware.Yearlyoperationsandmaintenancecostsroughly

$475,000,including$325,000onvendorsupport,$100,000onhardwareandhosting,and$50,000on

softwarelicensing(Levantoff,Costs…,2019)

AsofAugust1,2019,Virginiapassedfourofthe6billsintroducedinstategovernmentaddressingdata

quality(Anderson,2019).


KentuckyAccessandinformationforKentucky’sSLDSisavailableatKentuckyCenterforStatistics(KYStats).According

tothesite,it“wascreatedin2012toexpandupontheworkoftheKentuckyP-20DataCollaborative,including

maintainingtheKentuckyLongitudinalDataSystem(KLDS),astatewidelongitudinaldatasystemthatfacilitates

theintegrationofdatafromtheKentuckyDepartmentofEducation(KDE),theCouncilonPostsecondaryEducation

(CPE),theEducationProfessionalStandardsBoard(EPSB),theKentuckyHigherEducationAssistanceAuthority

(KHEAA),andtheKentuckyEducationandWorkforceDevelopmentCabinet.”

Thisisacentralizedsystemthatoriginatedwiththreestateagenciesandgrewtofivethroughexecutiveorders

andlegislation.KYStatsnowhasanindependentofficeandaformalizedgovernancestructure,whichincludes

eachparticipatingagency’srepresentationontheKentuckyLongitudinalDataSystemgoverningboard.Success

ofthissystemisattributedtopersonalrelationship-buildingthroughsharedunderstandingofthevalueagencies

realizebyengaginginthework,tojointpresentationsbyKYStatsstaffandsuccessfuluserswhobringreal-life

examplesoffundingdecisionsandstrategyworktothetable.(KYStats,2019)

KYStatsincludesarobustsetofreportsaddressingfutureskills,post-secondary,highschool,CTE,teacherprep,

andSkillsUfeedback,aswellasanearlychildhoodprofile,andworkreadycommunities.Reportsaresearchable

andfilterable.Manyreportsfeatureinteractiveandcustomizableinfographicsallowingforreportstobeadjusted

bydatasets,geography,timeframeandoccupationorindustrycategories.Kentucky’sLaborMarketInformation

statisticsarealsoembeddedintothissite.

KYStatsincludesa“requestdata”linkonthehomepage.Therequestprocessisinitiatedwhenauserselects

individualoraggregatedleveldata.Restrictionsandprocessinformationisdisplayedtoassisttheuserin

understandingtheirrequestandpotentiallimitationsincludingpotentialtimeframes(3weeksforaggregated/4

monthsforindividual-leveldata).Aquestionnairemustbecompletedtoinitiatetherequestprocess.Policyand

accessinformationissharedonthesite,aswellasinformationaboutprivacylawsandregulations.Thissitealso

housesacareerexplorertool.AlldatarequestfulfillmentdoesnotincludePersonallyIdentifiableInformation.

DataisonlysharedthroughstrictMOUprocedures,whichgovernhowthedataisusedandprovideguidanceon

sharingresearchoutcomesandrestrictfromlinkingtoanyothersystem.Thedatamustalsobedestroyedafter

use.(KYStats,ibid)

KentuckyisabletolinktheirearlychildhooddatasystemswithchildsocialservicesdatasuchasTANF,child

welfare,andSNAP.(King,Perkins,Nugent,Jordan,ibid)

AsofAugust1,2019,Kentuckypassedtwoofthefivebillsintroducedinstategovernmentaddressingdata

quality(DQC2019EducationDataLegislationReview).


Other Noteworthy StatesTexas and the University of Texas

BoththestateofTexasandtheUniversityofTexasemergedasinnovatorsinconversationswithstakeholders,but

wereseldomcitedintheliteraturereviewed.Accordingtoasessionagendafromthe2019Close-ItConference:

“�In�order�to�help�students�make�informed�decisions�about�academic�pathways,�career�choices,�and��

borrowing�practices,�the�University�of�Texas�System�developed�a�partnership�with�the�United�States�Census�

(U.S.�Census)�Bureau�to�merge�UT�System�student�data�with�national�UI�wage�data�that�is�maintained�by�

the�Longitudinal�Employer-Household�Dynamics�(LEHD)�program.�The�LEHD�program�maintains�a�voluntary�

data�agreement�with�49�states�who�submit�individual-level�UI�wage�records�to�a�data�consortium.�The�

U.S.�Census�has�matched�their�records�with�UT�System�student�records.�The�matching�of�records�allows�UT�

System�to�create�a�national-level�earnings�metric�(annual�earnings)�by�major�for�any�graduate�who�has�UI�

wage�records�from�across�the�nation.�The�metric�was�integrated�into�the�UT�System�seekUT™�tool�–�a�free,�

online�tool�that�provides�students�and�parents�information�on�earnings�and�student�debt�by�major.”

TheconferencesessiondescriptionalsoindicatedasharingoftheprocessUTunderwenttobecomeaU.S.Census

BureaupartnerandinferredthattheU.S.CensusBureauisopentoadditionalpartnerships.Additionalinformation

isavailablebyvisiting:https://seekut.utsystem.edu.

Additionally,TexasenactedHB3in2019,whichoverhaulsschoolfundingformulastoincreaseavailabilityofdata

aboutearlychildhoodeducationqualityandrequiresdistrictstosetearlychildhoodliteracyandmathproficiency

goalsandpubliclyreportonprogress.(Andrews,2019)

Other State Activities

•CaliforniapassedanewlawthisyearestablishinganSLDS.Ithasbeenoneoftheonlystatesacrossthenation

withoutasystem(DataQualityCampaign,2019)

•MarylandpassedalawthatwilladdjuveniledelinquencyanddisciplinerecordstoitsSLDSandaddthe

secretaryofjuvenileservicestothestate’spre-existingdatagovernanceboard.(ibid)

•UtahpassedalawtocreateinfrastructureforthesharingofstudentdatabetweendistrictsandtheState

BoardofEducation.Thiscreatesastandardizeddatacollectionandreportingprocess.(ibid)

•AFloridalawestablishedtheFloridaTalentDevelopmentCouncil,whichwillusedatatoaligneducationand

workforceneedsbyassessingwhetherpostsecondarydegreesandcredentialsalignwithemployerneeds.(ibid)

•AccordingtotheAspenInstitute,anumberofstateshavetakenstepstowardamoreskills-basedlabor

market.Forinstance,Colorado,andmorerecentlyIndiana,haveworkedwiththeMarkleFoundation’sSkillful

Initiative–inpartnershipwithMicrosoft,LinkedInandotherpartners–todevelopamoreeffectiveand

transparentskills-basedlabormarket.InFebruary2019,20governorshelpedlaunchtheSkillfulStateNetwork

inanefforttoscalethemodel.Butachievingthatleveloftransparency–andlinkingthetheoryupwithactual

hiringdecisionsinpractice–canbequitedifficultwithouttheunderlyingdataandinformationonskillneeds

andgaps.(AspenInstitute,2019).

50 | RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations

1. Grow a culture of data literacy and transparency in Michigan.

Itisevidentthroughthisresearchthattheexecutivebranchandstateagencieshaveakeyrole

toplayinmakingaccesstohigh-qualitydataapriority.Withadditionalresources,andrespectful

stakeholderengagement,CEPI,LEO-WDandLMISIcouldplayatransformativeroleinhow

Michiganleveragesarobustsystemofdatacollectiontodrivepositivesysteminvestmentsand

outcomes.Thereareplentifulopportunitiesforengagementthroughoutthestate,andintermediaries

willingtocollaborateandsharetheworkneededtoclearlyarticulateSLDSandWLDSprograms

andcapabilities.

2. Design and publish clear rules for engagement for access to SLDS data, and

make the “front door” obvious across websites and dashboards for all federated

data owners.

Thereisapalpablesenseoffrustrationamongmanystakeholdersconcerningwhytheyhavenot

beenabletogetaccesstodatathattheyassumeisavailableandaccessible.Concertedefforts

weremadetodiscoverhowtoevenmakerequestsoftheSLDS,whicharedetailedinthisreport.

Otherstateshaveclearlydefinedandpublishedrulesofengagement.Michigancanimprove

currentexternalcommunicationstoalleviatethesefrustrations.

3. Add vital reporting metrics to employer unemployment wage reporting

including: ONET occupation code, job title, hours worked, and primary job site.

TheU.S.DepartmentofLabor2018draftreport,“Recommendationstoimprovethenation’s

workforceandlabormarketinformationsystem,”theAspenInstitute’s2019,“FutureofWork”

ThefollowingrecommendationsshouldbeconsideredbyTalent2025,theWestMichigantalentworkinggroup,

interestedpartiesacrossthestate,andstatepolicymakers.Dedicatedpublicservantsworkinginstategovernment

havecreatedthebackboneofausefulSLDS.Additionalconvening,collaboration,andinvestmentwillberequired

toliftMichigantoabest-in-classstatewhencomparingSLDSsystemsnationally.Withsomanyorganizationsin

thepublic,privateandnonprofitsectorsfocusedoneducatingfor“thefutureofwork,”andonhowtoactivate

long-termunemployedpersonsduringthistimeoffullemployment,SLDSsystemsareanaturalplacetolookto

measureprogramresultsandsystemsperformanceforlifelonglearningamongyouthandadultsinMichigan.

Withasolidfoundationinplace,MichiganhasanopportunitytotakeitsSLDSto

thenextlevel.Theserefinementsarecritical.Forthestatetoremaincompetitive

inamodern,knowledge-basedeconomy,itmusthavearobustdatasystemthat

supportsimprovementstoworkforceandeducationstrategies.

$

RECOMMENDATIONS | 51

report,andstakeholdersinternalandexternaltostategovernmentagreeifthestateistohave

arobustSLDS,itmustincludecriticalpiecesofinformationthataremissingfromwhatiscurrently

collected.Themissinginformationisroutinelydemandedbyemployers,researchers,andeducators

alike,butmostdonotrealizethatthefourdatapointsinthisrecommendationarenotcollected

bylocal,state,orfederalagencies.

4. Add missing data from existing state systems.

ManyhelpfulsourcesofinformationarenotincludedincurrentSLDSsystems,theseincludebut

arenotlimitedto:

•Self-employmentdata(IRS1099)sometimesframedasthegig-economy,

•ProfessionallicensingdatabasesfromtheDepartmentofLicensingandRegulatoryAffairs,

•U.S.DepartmentofLaborApprenticeships,

•WorkforceinvestmentsnotcontainedintheOSMISreportingsystem.

5. Implement a system of assigning unique identifier codes (UIC) at birth, or at first

engagement with state services. Integrate a common system of UIC assignment

across all state agencies, agents of the state, and subcontractors.

TheLEO-WD,stateLMISIoffice,CEPI,andotheragencieshaveinvestedconsiderabletalent,time

andcapitaloverthepastdecadebuildingsystemstomatchindividualrecordsacrossnumerous

databases.ThisprocessinvolvespainstakingworktoassignUICsandtotestandverifycombined

datasets.SettingastandardpolicyforUICassignment,independentofSocialSecuritynumbers,

willstreamlinefutureanalysisopportunities.

6. Appropriate a “data innovation and quality fund.”

Michiganhasamongthebestandbrightestmindsintheworld,focusedonsolvingbigchallenges.

Withaproactiveposition,andadesiretobuildacultureofdataliteracyandtransparency,researchers

fromthepublic,nonprofit,educationandprivatesectorswillposethequestionsanddothework

thatwillleadthenationinSLDSinnovationandimplementation.Evenasmallannualappropriation

wouldbeabletoseedacompetitivefundtoaskthequestionsthatwillmakeMichiganreflect

onitseducationandworkforceinvestmentsthoughthehelpfulandcriticaleyeofresearchersat

colleges,universities,workforceagencies,andintermediarynonprofits.

Anumberoffoundations(referencepage41)havecometogethertosupportadditionalcapacity

forSLDSandrelatedresources.Moredetailsmaybecomeavailableinearly2020,ifandwhena

grantfromtheRalphC.WilsonJr.Foundationboardismadepublic.Foundationfundingdoesnot,

however,replacetheimmediateandlong-termneedforadditionalthoughtfulinvestmentonthe

partoftheStateofMichigantosupportsystemsforthestate.Acompetitivefund,focusedon

52 | RECOMMENDATIONS

innovativeresearchanddataquality,similartorecentstatecompetitionsforworkforceand

educationcollaborations(MarshallPlanforTalent,GoingPro,etc.)wouldprovideapractical

andcreativeoutletforvaluableresearchandprogramdevelopmentaroundthestate.Whilean

assessmentoffunderssupportingeducationandworkforcedataresearchareoutsidethescope

ofthisanalysis,avarietyoffundersandgrantshavebeenidentifiedinthispaper.

7. Revisit succession plans among key state agencies to identify and verify

critical systems and employees.

AsmallnumberofdedicatedpublicservantshavecreatedtheSLDSsystemswehavetoday,andloss

ofinstitutionalmemoryforpositiveortragicreasonscouldnegativelyimpactsystemsmanagement.

RECOMMENDATIONS | 53

54 | ABOUT THE AUTHORS

About the AuthorsDavid PalmerDavidPalmerisamulti-disciplinaryconvener,facilitator,publicspeaker,researcher,entrepreneur,andRealtor,in

privatepractice.HeisprincipalofDCPalmerLLC.Davidspent10yearsworkinginkitchensandmanagingrestaurants.

Anothertenyearsmanagingsuccessfulsmallbusinesses:onefocusedonenvironmentalremediationandtheother

flowdynamicsmeasurementandsoftware/hardwaresystemsintegration.Mostrecently,hehasinvestedsixyears

innonprofitworkforcedevelopmentandinservinghisresidentialrealestateclients.WhiletheSeniorDirectorat

theWorkforceIntelligenceNetwork(2014-2019),hesupportedthedevelopmentofover$40millioninfederal,

stateandfoundationgrantsawardedtosupportworkforcetrainingandcapacitybuildinginthe16countyDetroit

region.Hehasspokenatover100conferencesandmeetingssince2014.HeholdsaMasterofPublicAdministration

degree,withhonors,fromEasternMichiganUniversity.Also,aGraduateCertificateinNonprofitManagementand

aBachelor’sinPoliticalScienceandBusinessfromEMU.DavidisalicensedRealEstateAssociateBroker,a

CertifiedNonprofitProfessional,andaDocumenterforWDET,Detroit’sNationalPublicRadioStation.Heisa

memberoftheAmericanAssociationofPoliticalConsultants,theNationalAssociationofRealtors,theGreatLakes

RenewableEnergyAssociation,andhasservedonnumerousadvisorycommitteesandnonprofitboards.Linkstohis

publicationscanbefoundonhiswebsite:www.dcpalmer.com.DavidlivesintheHubbardRichardneighborhoodin

SouthwestDetroitandtravelstheUnitedStatesandEuropeinsearchofinspirationalmusicandamazingfood.

LinkedInandTwitter:@DavidPalmer76

Email:[email protected]

Tricia CzachowskiTriciaCzachowskiistheownerandoperatorofCZAConsultingLLC.Shedrawsonhereightyearsofexperience

managingfederalandfoundationgrants,aswellasgrantwritingandbusinessoperationssupport.Triciapreviously

servedasaSeniorProjectManager,InterimExecutiveDirector,andResearchandPolicyAnalystwiththeWorkforce

IntelligenceNetworkforSoutheastMichigan.Inthisrole,sheservedastheprojectleadforthe$9.4million

SoutheastMichiganDefenseIndustryAdjustmentgrants(alsoknownastheAdvanceMichiganDefenseCollaborative)

fromtheDepartmentofDefense,spendingbothgrantstowithin95%ofthetotalbudgets,overseeing20projects

intendedtoidentifyanddiversifyMichigan’sdefenseportfolio,expandeducationalandworkforcetrainingfor

emergingmarkets,andprovideopportunitiesforMichigancompaniesengagedinthedefenseeconomy.Tricia

ledeffortstodeveloprequestsforproposalsandcontractspertainingtothisDepartmentofDefenseOfficeof

EconomicAdjustmentgrant.ShealsocoordinatedtheAdvanceMichiganDefenseCollaborativeexecutive

subcommitteeandgrantadministrationmeetings.Shehasextensiveresearchandwritingexperiencerelatingtolabor

marketinformationandwasacontributingauthortoWINlabormarketreports,andseveralspecialreportspertaining

toworkforcedataonhealthcare,cybersecurity,andadvancedmanufacturing.TriciaisalifelongresidentofMichigan

andwasraisedintheThumbarea.Sheholdsabachelor’sdegreefromGrandValleyStateUniversity.

LinkedIn:@CZAconsulting

Email:[email protected]

BIBLIOGRAPHY | 55

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michigancc.net%2Fevents%2Finformation%2Fworkshop%2FWLDS.pptx&usg=AOvVaw13eHmugJeaP93a3CGJfqQp

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Longitudinal Data Systems in Michigan - Talent 2025 · The term state longitudinal data system (SLDS) is commonly used to refer to all statewide systems that track student achievement