Leadership Documents

Policymakers can assist states in developing, accessing and using longitudinal student data to improve student outcomes by reducing the following barriers:
• Eliminate redundant data collection
• Coordinate data definitions
• Refine student privacy protections

Source: Data Quality Campaign (2007). Building and Using Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems: Implications for Policy.

This section includes sample letters:

• Sample Community Letter
• Sample Legislator Letter

Dear School Board Member & Community Leader:

I am writing to you to discuss why we need to promote the development, access, and use of longitudinal student data NOT just for accountability through adequate yearly progress reports, but more importantly as a resource for school improvement and teacher quality. Administrators and teachers need access to student data on a daily basis to individualize instruction based upon individual student needs and researchers need access to reliable data to study the effectiveness of specific programs within schools.

In our increasingly global marketplace, how to effectively prepare our kids to compete in a 21st-century economy is the crucial question facing education in America. I am writing to emphasize the key role that data plays in improving instruction and raising students’ academic achievement. Robust data warehouses that contain data about a student’s academic history, discipline records, and transcript data can provide teachers with the information they need to individualize instruction to each and every student and the entire class.

Teachers need access to data to assess the progress of their students on a regular basis in order to individualize instruction for each and every student. Robust data warehouses that contain data about a student’s academic history, discipline records, and transcript data can provide teachers with the information they need. With access to reliable data at the school level, teachers may review their own student’s test scores, including individual test questions to assess individual student understanding of specific concepts.

Additionally, researchers need access to reliable data to study the effectiveness of specific programs within schools. An effective data analysis and reporting system that can help administrators identify effective programs is critical to improving student achievement,

Utilizing reporting and analysis tools enables ALL stakeholders (state agencies, districts, schools, administrators, teachers, parents, and students) to access valuable student information with the goal of improving teaching and learning. As a state legislator tasked with providing a quality education for each of the students in <<INSERT STATE>>, access to accurate, reliable data will help you monitor your state’s progress towards educational goals.

I would welcome the opportunity to share with you how our state may benefit from designing, building, implementing, and utilizing a statewide longitudinal data system for education. I can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX. I appreciate your continued support for public education and encourage your efforts to ensure our children are prepared for the competitive workplace of the 21st century.

Sincerely,


XXXXX