New Jersey SLDS Systems Integration

This proposal describes how the State of New Jersey will use grant funds toward infrastructure goals that will expand its ability to use longitudinal data to make data-driven policy decisions.

The work proposed for this grant is designed to fulfill the need in New Jersey to (1) improve data quality within each of its SLDS and source data systems, (2) improve data accessibility, (3) more tightly coordinate activities and automate data flows across all data systems, and (4) address missing data by participating in a multi-state data exchange.

In order to meet these needs, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is submitting this grant application to assist with its ongoing mission to support schools, educators, and districts to ensure all of New Jersey's 1.4 million students have equitable access to high-quality education and achieve academic excellence. The following outcomes are infrastructure-related and will be completed by the end of the grant period:

• NJDOE data consolidation
• Modernization of Postsecondary Student Unit Record (SURE) data collection
• Data accessibility improvement
• Research community data access expansion
• Early childhood, elementary/secondary, postsecondary, workforce data system integration
• Exploration of a mid-Atlantic interstate data exchange including current interest from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland

Multiple state agencies have committed to collaborating with one another in order to make progress toward these outcomes so that New Jersey can best utilize its P20W longitudinal data to improve policies that impact students, workers, residents, and other stakeholders. Considering that integration efforts involve both single-agency and multi-agency data systems, the State will coordinate this work by relying on its talented experts across agencies, strong inter-agency relationships, and well-established governance structures.

The goals involved with this grant will improve data quality, collection, integration, and accessibility for agencies within New Jersey and between states. Making progress on each of these outcomes will enhance the entire State system. This synergy among agencies and data systems will allow New Jersey to more thoughtfully utilize P20Wdata to improve the educational experience and outcomes for all students.