The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Education Data Cooperative Initiative (EDCI) consists of several interrelated NCES programs that work in concert to promote the effective collection, protection, and use of high quality preschool to workforce (P–20W) data. The SLDS Program and the following related initiatives support the design, development, implementation, and use of P–20W education data systems through technical assistance, funding, proactive grants management, best practice exchange, data standards creation, and the cultivation of a community around education data.
 |
Common Education Data Standards (CEDS): The Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) project is a national, collaborative effort to develop voluntary data standards for a key set of education data elements to streamline the exchange, comparison, and understanding of data within and across P-20 institutions and sectors. | |
 |
National Forum on Education Statistics: The Forum develops data standards and best practice recommendations, and provides helpful advice on the collection, maintenance, and use of elementary and secondary education data. To this end, the Forum's diverse group of representatives from state and local education agencies, the federal government, and other organizations works collaboratively to address problems, develop resources, identify best practices, and consider new approaches to improving data collection, quality, privacy, and utility while remaining sensitive to privacy concerns and administrative burden. | |
|
Privacy Technical Assistance Center (PTAC): PTAC is part of ED's initiatives to help the field understand all of their responsibilities as stewards of student data. The center serves as a one-stop resource for state and local education agencies, the postsecondary community, the early childhood community, and other parties engaged with education data on questions related to protecting privacy and confidentiality, and maintaining data security. PTAC is developing coordinated information and best practices on privacy, confidentiality, and security measures as they relate to P-20W longitudinal data systems. | |
 |
Effective Practices Conferences: Conferences including MIS, STATS-DC, and the SLDS P-20W Best Practice Conference provide venues for state and district staff to share proven practices and lessons learned, and to engage with colleagues from across state lines, as well as representatives from the federal government and national non-profit organizations. These events play a key role in helping staff build relationships and cultivate a community around P-20W education data system design, development, implementation, and use. |
