Uncover your data potential

States need help understanding their legal responsibilities to facilitate data sharing. In the case of the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS), DISC was able to clear up misunderstanding over the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) so community college leaders could benefit from information on their students’ outcomes in the workforce. 

NSWERS contacted DISC after receiving feedback from a postsecondary partner on potential revisions to an existing data sharing agreement. As generalists, NSWERS’ legal counsel relied on DISC’s expertise in nuanced federal privacy laws for insights to better align the data sharing agreement with federal privacy law requirements and best practices.

DISC also strategized with NSWERS on a way to share recommendations with partners, determining that a facilitated conversation would be the most effective strategy. As an objective third-party partner, DISC was able to reveal that while the legal requirements were a concern, more importantly the postsecondary partner was wary of participating in the NSWERS because of concerns over the quality of their data. As a result, NSWERS was able to identify the established data governance policies and procedures that ensure data are accurate, relevant, and properly interpreted to further alleviate their partner’s concerns.

Connecticut’s Preschool Through 20 Workforce Information Network (P20 WIN) has long been recognized as a founding integrated data system (IDS). However, P20 WIN’s operating group, led by the state’s chief data officer, identified pressing issues regarding data movement, security vulnerabilities, and declines in data quality. To address these challenges, they sought specialized knowledge and assistance from DISC.

Connecticut agreed to be the first IDS to take part in DISC’s Enhanced Privacy and Security Assessment. This comprehensive appraisal yielded clear and unbiased insights into the current state of P20 WIN. DISC’s assessment identified ways to modernize the IDS, areas of mitigation, and justification for Connecticut to take proactive steps toward a more secure and modern IDS.

Following the recommendations from DISC’s Enhanced Privacy and Security Assessment, P20 WIN’s operating group asked its data governing board to develop recommendations to allow P20 WIN to improve data privacy, security, system capabilities, and the ability to use data for legitimate state purposes. Those recommendations were presented to and approved by P20 WIN’s executive board in June 2024.

Data are essential for evaluating the impact of education and workforce programs, but delivering those data securely and seamlessly to leaders is a challenge. The recently established Office of Education Through Employment Pathways is charged with launching the District of Columbia’s first integrated data system that will include education, workforce, social services, and juvenile justice data. This system will allow policymakers, agency leaders, educators, and the public to better understand education and employment outcomes for District residents.

As the Office of Education Through Employment Pathways began this work, leaders asked DISC to partner in the development and implementation of the integrated data system. Through frequent meetings and open communication channels, DISC is helping the office achieve its goals with a focus on privacy protection measures and effective governance practices.

Higher education institutions are integral to preparing students for the workforce, but they struggle to meet labor market demands without timely and accurate data. A Texas consortium of community colleges asked DISC for support in navigating recent legislation that provides financial incentives to colleges for awarding degrees, certificates, and other “credentials of value.” The consortium quickly realized that institutions cannot implement the new funding model without access to relevant and timely workforce data on community college graduates—data which is currently not available to them. DISC is supporting their need to access this relevant data so they can better align their academic programs to workforce needs.