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In support of the Data Quality Initiative, NASWA has became an endorsing partner of the Data Quality Campaign in its goal of improving the collection, availability, and use of high-quality education data, and implementing state longitudinal data systems to improve student achievement. NASWA joins this national forum to reduce duplication of effort and to promote greater coordination and consensus among the organizations focusing on improving data quality, access, and use.

Earlier this year, NASWA was asked by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to help them better understand the capacity of states to work with the Department of Education in building workforce-education longitudinal databases. This represented NASWA's initial collaboration with the USDOL in support of the Data Quality Initiative. NASWA distributed a survey to states from which USDOL learned that a large number of states were already working with education departments and matching workforce and education data. USDOL later shared a summary of its findings (attached) at a meeting at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

On August 10, 2009, a request for applications notice was distributed for new awards under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for State educational agencies to design, develop, and implement statewide, longitudinal data systems. ARRA Funding of $250 million is available to support the goal of creating comprehensive systems to provide accurate and timely data in support of decision-making at all levels of the education systems. An expectation of these applications is that State education departments will create linkages with workforce development systems. The deadline for this application is November 19, 2009.

The USDOL FY 2010 budget requests $15 million for a Workforce Data Quality Initiative of competitive grants to support the development of longitudinal data systems to integrate education and workforce data. Longitudinal data systems track individuals as they progress through the education system and into the workforce. Some states have developed comprehensive systems linking individuals' demographic information, high school transcripts, college transcripts, and quarterly wage data. These data systems can provide valuable information to consumers, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the performance of education and workforce development programs.

In early September 2009, the Data Quality Campaign hosted two events. The first was a meeting was held on September 2 at the Senate Russell Building in Washington, DC and included Carmel Martin, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education; Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; and Joan Lombardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and others. A second event followed, designed as a strategy session and included stakeholders from both the education and workforce sectors. NASWA attended and participated in both sessions. During the second session NASWA was asked to become an endorsing partner, which NASWA President Karen Lee approved last week.