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SB 371

Requiring the Establishment of a Longitudinal Data System of Student Data

(Senate Committee on Education) This bill directs the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to enter into a written agreement that:

1. Establishes a longitudinal data system that links student records from preschool through postsecondary education.
2. Describes the process by which any of the agencies may evaluate and study education programs operated or supervised by one or more of the other agencies.
3. Requires an agency to obtain the approval of, and enter into a written agreement with, the other agency before it can study or evaluate the latter agency’s education programs.
4. Requires the agencies to exchange student data to the extent necessary to perform the evaluation or study.
5.  Allows the agencies to collaborate with other persons, including state agencies, to import workforce or other data into the longitudinal data system to assist with an evaluation or study.

If data shared among these agencies contains personally identifiable information, the disclosure must be in connection with a data-sharing agreement that specifies the purpose, scope, and duration of the research and provides for data security protocols. Personal information must be destroyed or returned when no longer needed.

SUPPORT: The UW System has long supported the creation of a longitudinal PK-16 (or PK-20) data system. By sharing and analyzing this data, all educational sectors can engage in meaningful efforts to help Wisconsin produce a highly educated citizenry and a skilled workforce.

The resulting research that will be possible through this data system will help advance the goals of UW System’s Growth Agenda for Wisconsin.

UW System also strongly supports the state’s efforts to compete for federal “Race to the Top” funding, and passage of SB 371 would enhance those efforts.

SB 371 lays out the broad parameters and minimum requirements for a data-sharing agreement among the state’s educational sectors. The finer details of such a compact will require significant effort and collaboration.

UW System supports student privacy, and is committed to protecting personally identifiable data in any written agreement. UW System hopes that the resulting inter-agency agreement includes language that does not unreasonably hinder mutual access to available data.

The legislation provides no additional resources to facilitate this data sharing, and it is too soon to predict what those costs (if any) may be. If this becomes a concern, the resulting inter-agency agreement should address the best ways to address those new costs.