Education and Workforce Data Review Shows Promising State-Level Trends in Legislation
A new report by Data Quality Campaign (DQC) shows data legislation in various states that have passed into law could positively affect student performance.
In 2023, state legislators introduced 269 bills in 44 states and Washington D.C. that address data across education and the workforce, 72 of which became laws. The Education and Workforce Data Legislation Review by DQC spotlights the bills introduced and laws enacted in 2023 addressing data governance, as well as other recommendations for states to support data access through improved statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs).
In Virginia, a new law requires the Virginia Department of Education to establish a Parent Data Portal to provide parents access to individualized data from state-issued assessments over time. This legislation includes mechanisms, such as requiring language translation, to ensure that all parents can use and understand this data.
New legislation enacted in Texas mandates that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) provide comparative information about institutions of higher education on its website. This information will cover postsecondary education and career opportunities, assist prospective students in evaluating different programs, and include data on costs, student outcomes, and employment rates. In addition, legislators passed a law that requires THECB to provide information and tools electronically to assist prospective postsecondary students in assessing the value of different degree and credential programs.
The full report is available to download on DQC’s website.
Tags: data, research, State issues
