On Thursday, March 7, 2019, California Competes Senior Research Analyst Dr. Valerie Lundy-Wagner told the Senate Budget Subcommittee 1 on Education that policymakers must consider fundamental questions to determine first steps for California’s first statewide longitudinal data system. These questions include:
- What will this education and workforce, or P-Workforce, data system be used for?
- How will the state look different as a result of getting this system?
- Which sectors should be involved?
- Who would be consumers of the data system?
“To gain the trust and buy-in of all participants, the state must store the data in a way that is politically neutral, secure, and assures a balance of power in alignment with state goals.”
Dr. Valerie Lundy-Wagner
California Competes was invited to testify along with representatives from the Department of Finance, education and workforce segments, and the Education Insights Center.
A few widely agreed upon considerations emphasize why the state’s current data collection and reporting methods are inadequate.
