Leveraging Federal Funding for Longitudinal Data Systems - A Roadmap for States

This roadmap provides a starting point for state plans by identifying federal funding sources that can be used for data-related activities. The dollar amounts included in this document reflect new American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding, which is in addition to regular FY 2009 appropriations and separate from FY 2010 budget requests.

Most of this information is pulled from federal legislation, statute or guidance. DQC has also provided suggestions, noted next to the "tip" icon, for how states might be able to use these identified funds. This interactive roadmap transforms the printed version and will be continually updated, so check back often.

Key Related Resources

P-20: Early Childhood to K-12 to Postsecondary to Workforce

U.S. Department of Education

Statewide Longitudinal Data System Grants | $245 million

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) | $48.6 billion

State Incentive Grants (Race to the Top) | $4.35 billion

IDEA Part B (ages 3–21) | $11.7 billion

IDEA Part C (ages birth–2) | $500 million

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV)*

Title I Funds | $13 billion

Higher Ed. Opp. Act | $100 million

Adult Education and Family Literacy*

Teacher Incentive Fund | $137 million

Enhancing Ed. Tech. | $650 million

M-V Homeless Assistance | $70 million

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families | $5 billion

Child Care and Development Block Grant | $2 billion

Head Start | $2.1 billion

U.S. Department of Labor

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) | $3.95 billion

Workforce Data Quality Initiative | $12.2 million

Statewide Longitudinal Data System Grants

Grantees are intended to use the funds to implement "P-20 systems that have the capacity to link individual student data across time and across databases, including matching teachers to students, promote interoperability for easy matching and linking of data across institutions and States, and protect student privacy consistent with applicable privacy protection laws. "Grantees are alsopermitted "to include not only data related to K-12 education, but also data on preschool and postsecondary education and workforce information, and to promote linkages with other data systems where such linkages may inform education policy and practice."

tip

States should use these funds to ensure their data systems have the DQC 10 Essential Elements and consider using these funds to provide access to and improve the use of the information coming out of these systems. States should also continue to apply for separate annually appropriated SLDS Grants, which are issued periodically. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $58 million)

U.S. Department of Education

$245 million

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce

Federal Register, SLDS RFA Invitation (PDF)

State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF)

In exchange for the new, one-time funding, states must commit to education reform in four areas, including “establishing pre-K-to-college-and-career data systems that track progress and foster continuous improvement.”

tip

Local education agencies can use their allocated funds for activities such as providing training for educators on data use, connecting to the statewide data system, and funding upgrades to district and school infrastructures and student information systems. There is no specific set-aside for state education agencies; however, to the extent that they are able to receive any of the SFSF from the governor, they may also use these funds to develop and use the state data system.

U.S. Department of Education

$48.6 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce

U.S. Department of Education SFSF Guidance (PDF)

State Incentive Grants (Race to the Top)

Proposed priorities released for comment by the U.S. Department of Education indicate that an absolute priority states must address in their application for these competitive grants is a comprehensive plan around the four reform areas, which includes establishing a longitudinal data system with elements required by the America COMPETES Act. The secretary is also particularly interested in state applications that "expand statewide longitudinal data systems to include or integrate data from special education programs, limited English proficiency programs, early childhood programs, human resources, finance, health, postsecondary, and other relevant areas, " although states will not be given preference over other applicant states for meeting this priority.

tip

States should think creatively about how this grant can help them develop and implement cutting-edge data efforts including, but not limited to, cross-state partnerships and interoperability, cross-agency data sharing (e.g., workforce-education agencies), P–20 linkages, and supporting district and school data systems and use.

U.S. Department of Education

$4.35 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce

Federal Register, RTT Proposed Notice (PDF)

IDEA Part B (ages 3–21)

IDEA Part B is divided into two streams: $11.3 billion in grants to states and $400 million for preschool grants. A possible use of these limited, one-time funds is to “develop or expand the capacity to collect and use data to improve teaching and learning.”

tip

States should consider using part of their funds to ensure that information on students with disabilities is an integral part of the state longitudinal data system, whereby students with disabilities are identified and tracked to ensure that they are provided with an appropriate education. States should also coordinate early childhood data efforts under IDEA Part B-619 and Part C with the work of their State Advisory Councils on Early Childhood Education and Care.

U.S. Department of Education

$11.7 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12

U.S. Department of Education IDEA Part B Guidance (PDF)

IDEA Part C (ages birth–2)

One use of these funds can be to “support development of high quality state and local data systems to collect valid and reliable data for use in improving the timely delivery of early intervention services, the transition of children receiving services under Part C to the Part B preschool program, [and] the tracking of early childhood outcome data as children exit the program and enter preschool and elementary school, and in meeting data reporting requirements on the state’s and EIS programs’ performance on early childhood priority areas.”

tip

States should consider using part of their funds to ensure that information on students with disabilities is an integral part of the state longitudinal data systems, whereby students with disabilities are identified and tracked to ensure that they are provided with an appropriate education. States should also coordinate early childhood data efforts under IDEA Part B-619 and Part C with the work of their State Advisory Councils on Early Childhood Education and Care.

U.S. Department of Education

$500 million

Early Childhood (Birth-School)

U.S. Department of Education IDEA Part C Guidance (PDF)

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV)

Although the ARRA does not allocate any state funds for this use, local education agencies (LEAs) may use the SFSF allocation for any activity authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, IDEA, the Adult and Family Literacy Act, or Perkins. Under Title I Part B sec 124 (c)(15) of the law, states also can use a percentage of their state allotment for “ … leadership activities … [that] may include developing and enhancing data systems to collect and analyze data on secondary and postsecondary academic and employment outcomes.” States may reserve up to 10 percent for leadership activities and 5 percent for administrative activities, including developing and enhancing data systems. Perkins requires states to collect and report information from both K–12 and postsecondary activities plus linkages to employment data.

tip

Instead of building a duplicate system, states should consider consolidating or building links between and among existing systems. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $1.3 billion)

U.S. Department of Education

K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce

Carl D. Perkins Law (PDF)

Title I Funds

The ARRA includes additional allocations of $10 billion for grants under Part A of Title I and $3 billion for grants under the School Improvement Program by section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

tip

State and local education agencies may use school improvement funds to incorporate capacity and elements in the data system to identify and track schools in improvement status and to monitor and evaluate supports and interventions in these schools. In addition, local education agencies may use Title I funds to strengthen the capacity of Title I schools and teachers in Title I programs to make effective use of data in addressing the needs of students in these programs. These activities can be a significant part of teacher training activities supported under Title I.

U.S. Department of Education

$13 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12

U.S. Department of Education Title I Guidance (PDF)

Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)

The ARRA provides $100 million through HEOA for teacher quality partnerships to improve teacher preparation programs through activities such as professional development and content preparation. HEOA also establishes a pilot program for up to five states to develop postsecondary student data systems to“improve the capacity of States and institutions to generate more comprehensive and comparable data, in order to develop better-informed educational policy at the State level and to evaluate the effectiveness of institutional performance” and “identify how to best minimize the data-reporting burden placed on institutions, particularly smaller institutions, and to maximize and improve the information institutions receive from the data systems, in order to assist institutions in improving educational practice and postsecondary outcomes.”

tip

States should work to ensure that their data systems can follow graduates from teacher preparation programs into the workforce and are able to link teachers to student achievement data. This pilot program is currently unfunded. Nevertheless, as states enhance their postsecondary systems, they should be prepared to develop methods of linking data with K–12 and workforce.

U.S. Department of Education

$100 million

Postsecondary

Adult Education and Family Literacy

Although there are no ARRA funds allocated to adult education and literacy, LEAs may use funds they receive under the education allocation in SFSF (81.8 percent of the SFSF allocation) for any activity authorized under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (also known as Title II of the Workforce Investment Act or the Adult Education Act).

tip

Allowable activities include strengthening data systems and linking them with postsecondary education and workforce data systems. LEAs should consider using these funds to link data systems, which would improve reporting of core indicators required by the act, such as participants' placement in; retention in; or completion of postsecondary education, training, unsubsidized employment or career advancement. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $628 million)

U.S. Department of Education

K-12, Postsecondary

Teacher Incentive Fund

These funds are to “support programs that develop and implement performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems, based primarily on increases in student achievement, in high-need schools.”

tip

States should work with districts to enhance state and district data systems that would allow for accurate teacher student linkages and student course/grade information. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $300 million)

U.S. Department of Education

$137 million

K-12

Teacher Inventive Fund Website

Enhancing Education through Technology

Aimed at improving student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools, the funds are divided into two types of grants to qualified local education agencies: competitive grants and formula grants. Regardless of the type of grant an LEA receives, 25 percent must be set aside for professional development.

tip

States should encourage districts to use the professional development funds for activities such as “using technology to collect, manage, and analyze data to inform and enhance teaching and school improvement efforts.” (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $100 million)

U.S. Department of Education

$650 million

K-12

U.S. Department of Education Ed Tech Guidance (Word doc)

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Under this authority, states are directed to use these funds to work with LEAs to “collect and disseminate data and information regarding: the number and location of homeless children and youths; the education and related services such children and youths receive; and the extent to which the needs of homeless children and youths are being met.”

tip

States should use additional funds for state-level activities resulting from the ARRA (either through direct ARRA funding or through the effect of ARRA funds on the state’s percentage set-aside) for state-level data activities (as an integral part of the state data system) to identify and track homeless children, their problems and special needs, and the effectiveness of programs addressed to their needs. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $65 million)

U.S. Department of Education

$70 million

K-12

U.S. Department of Education McKinney-Vento Guidance (PDF)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

The Emergency Fund is aimed at supporting four statutory purposes: to assist needy families with in-home child care; to reduce the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and to encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. States receive funding to cover the costs of administering the program.

tip

Because states are required to report on program participants’ involvement in activities such as education, subsidized private employment, unsubsidized employment, etc., states should consider using a portion of their administrative funds to improve P-20/workforce data system linkages. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $3.2 billion)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

$5 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12, Postsecondary, Workforce

Child Care and Development Block Grant

“States must use approximately $255 million for quality activities, and of the $255 million, States must use approximately $94 million for activities to improve the quality of infant and toddler care.”

tip

States should use part of the $255 million allocated for quality activities to support building, linking and using coordinated state early care and education data systems that link with K-12, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) that evaluate and help improve early childhood program quality and early childhood workforce registries. These efforts should be coordinated with State Advisory Councils. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $ 2 billion)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

$2 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School), K-12

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CCDF Guidance

Head Start

ARRA provided an additional $2.1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start. From the $1 billion allocated to Head Start, $100 million is available for states to support the establishment and work of State Advisory Councils on Early Childhood Education and Care. These councils must “develop recommendations for a unified data collection system for public early childhood programs and services throughout the State.”

tip

In addition to the federally required participants, governors should ensure that council membership includes data and policy leaders across P–12 agencies and departments so data can be shared across the P-20/workforce spectrum. (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $7.2 billion with no specific appropriation for the councils.)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

$2.1 billion

Early Childhood (Birth-School)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Head Start Guidance

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

The $3.95 billion allocated is divided into six broad categories: WIA Adult Program ($500 million), WIA Dislocated Workers Program ($1.25 billion), WIA Youth Program ($1.2 billion),dislocated workers assistance national reserve ($200 million), Youth Build Activities ($50 million), and a competitive grants program for worker training and placement in high-growth and emerging industry sectors ($750 million). States can reserve up to 15 percent of WIA funding for statewide workforce investment activities and up to 25 percent of the Dislocated Worker allocation for statewide rapid response activities. Of the 15 percent set aside, states can use 5 percent to cover administrative costs.

tip

States should consider using a portion of their administrative funds to enhance their data collection systems by creating linkages with education to better report on one of the core indicators required by WIA — “attainment of a recognized credential relating to achievement of educational skills, which may include attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or occupational skills, by participants who enter unsubsidized employment, or by participants who are eligible youth age 19 through 21 who enter postsecondary education, advanced training, or unsubsidized employment.” (Additional FY 2010 appropriation- $3 billion)

U.S. Department of Labor

$3.95 billion

Postsecondary, Workforce

U.S. Department of Labor WIA Guidance

Workforce Data Quality Initiative

State workforce agencies may use grant funds "to design and develop workforce data systems that are longitudinal and which are designed to link with relevant education data or longitudinal education data systems." Single state applicants are eligible for up to $1 million, and states applying as a multistate consortium are eligible for grants of up to $3 million.

tip

States should apply for funds to enhance their workforce data systems and build linkages with other state systems such as K–12 and postsecondary data systems.

U.S. Department of Labor

$12.2 million

Postsecondary, Workforce

FY 2010 Budget, Employment and Training Administration (PDF)