Toward a Business Case for Sustained Investment in State Longitudinal Integrated Data Systems

This report responds to an urgent need. The flow of federal funds invested in the development of state education and workforce integrated data systems is scheduled to end state by state between now and 2016. Prospects for future federal investment in state data system integration will depend upon the business case that is made for doing so, justifying this allocation over popular competing alternatives. There is scant evidence that a strong business case has been made for continued federal funding and successful promotion of state funding. However, essential components needed to make a strong business case for future investment can be drawn from existing administrative data sources. Illustrative new evidence of state education and workforce integrated data system value appears in the following pages; evidence that can help to inform and improve the effectiveness of future high impact education and workforce expenditure decisions