Washington State Plan for a PK-20 Statewide Longitudinal Education Data Systems (SLEDS)

Washington’s statewide K-12 longitudinal data system has the ability to track individual student enrollment, assessments, and course-taking information, as well as information about teachers. The projects in this proposal will extend those K-12 capabilities by incorporating longitudinal early learning, post-secondary, and workforce information into a unified, comprehensive, and efficient P-20 system. The Evergreen State P-20 system (ESP-20) will be a collaborative effort by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Education Research and Data Center, and other partner agencies. 

Proposed projects will strengthen capabilities and accelerate progress in five outcome areas: 

1. Data governance. Agreements outlining when, how, and what data can be shared are a crucial component to making data available, particularly when such a large volume of data and numerous contributing agencies are involved. The goal is to generate a clear process that will accelerate the ability to share linked individual-level data while also protecting individuals’ privacy. 
2. Research and reporting. These products will be in the form of research briefs that can help inform policy decisions, local level reports that track student outcomes and achievements, and research data sets. The emphasis will be on producing information and understanding from the wealth of assembled data. The goal is to improve the timeliness of the information produced and usability of the data. 
3. Data warehouse environment. The construction of a structured P-20 data environment will include a data inventory spanning systems, the development of a P-20 data dictionary, and the implementation of a data warehouse with a variety of data marts designed to support research and reporting. The goal is to efficiently generate research datasets and summary information and to help ensure data quality. 
4. Interoperability. The goal is to facilitate the efficient and standardized exchange of data between ESP-20 and contributing data systems. 
5. Strengthening systems that contribute data to ESP-20. Efforts in this area will include enhancements to the community and technical college data system, the higher education program database, early learning student information, and private vocational school information. The goal is to improve the quality of data coming in to ESP-20. 

Washington State is poised to build upon existing partnerships and data availability to develop a structured and extensive longitudinal P-20 system. Upon completion of this project, Washington will meet all of the required capabilities and elements of a P-20 longitudinal data system. The project builds on best practices to ensure effective data use by linking systems, making data available, and building capacity. 

ESP-20 will enable efficient queries, produce research and information that can inform policy decisions, and provide information spanning the educational sectors. Receipt of grant funds will greatly accelerate Washington’s progress and will lead to education information that will inform educators, stakeholders, and policy-makers.