Implement, Improve, and Expand Your Statewide Longitudinal Data System: Creating a Culture of Data in Education

Every U.S. state faces challenges in its efforts to ensure the highest-quality education for students. To address these challenges, a growing number of states are establishing statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs), a data-rich system integrating relevant data about a student's education. Implementing Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems for Education presents a detailed and contextualized discussion of SLDSs, which will serve as a recipe for states that want to implement an SLDS, develop design and enactment of new and existing SLDS systems, addressing implementation, operation and optimization.

• Provides a contextualized discussion of the history and purpose of SLDSs
• Describes how to plan for and implement an SLDS, including best practices regarding data governance, standards and privacy
• Discusses proven methods of data management, and details the two most popular methods of database architectures used for SLDSs
• Provides 5 case studies of states successfully using SLDSs
• Offers suggestions for expansion and inclusion of new datasets over time

This essential book addresses the culture of data concept, providing a guide for states to usher in a new era in their education system where data is invaluable and used by everyone, not simply the newest version of the old system. A robust LDS initiative includes linked student records, teacher records, test scores, course selection, finances, certifications, licensure, salary and more. Concluding with a discussion of the potential future uses of SLDS, this book is the ultimate guide to SLDS implementation and understanding.