Our Work and Activities

Over the next three years, the Data Quality Campaign‘s (DQC) partners will continue to provide support and information about building robust student-level longitudinal data systems via the 10 essential elements.  But the campaign’s primary focus now shifts toward helping states identify and put in place the necessary policies and practices so that key stakeholders actually use longitudinal data to help students succeed. Even states that have not finished building their longitudinal data systems have a wealth of new information that they can use right away.

Priorities will necessarily vary across states, but the DQC has identified three overarching imperatives for changing the culture around data use and maximizing states’ infrastructure investments (pdf):

• Expand the ability of state longitudinal data systems to link across the P–20 education pipeline and across state agencies;
• Ensure that data can be accessed, analyzed and used, and communicate data to all stakeholders to promote continuous improvement; and
• Build the capacity of all stakeholders to use longitudinal data for effective decisionmaking.

Examples of new work and ongoing activities include:

• DQC Annual State Survey: The DQC conducts an annual survey about state data systems that measures progress towards building and implementing the 10 essential elements of a longitudinal data system.
• DQC Meetings: The DQC provides a national forum for conversations about building and using longitudinal data systems.  The campaign hosts regular meetings in Washington, DC, virtual webinars, regional meetings, and other convenings to highlight critical issues around data-driven decisionmaking to improve student achievement. These meetings are attended in person as well as virtually through a webcast.
• DQC Publications: The DQC releases numerous publications each year that highlight the power of longitudinal data to inform policy conversations, feature best practices in the field, capture state successes and challenges, and showcase promising strategies and examples of data use to improve student achievement. 
  
• DQC Recognition Program: Each year the DQC recognizes data champions in three key leadership areas:  District Data Leader, State Data Director, State Policymaker.  The awards are based on nominations and are given out each fall.