This fall, Education Commission of the States (ECS), WestEd’s Data Integration Support Center (DISC), Data Quality Campaign (DQC), and Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP) are launching a series to help state leaders unlock the full potential of their Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS). This four-part webinar series helps leaders reimagine how statewide education data systems can work for everyone—making information transparent, useful, and actionable.
The series introduces the User-Centered State Data System Design framework, which helps states build data systems that put people first. Each 1-hour webinar provides practical guidance, real-world examples, and lessons learned from states modernizing their data systems around three core functions:
- Public Reports and Dashboards
- Support for Individuals
- Research and Analytics
Each session features insights from state leaders who have successfully modernized their data systems and is designed to be accessible to both policy and technical audiences, focusing on practical applications over technical details.
Who Should Attend
- State commissioners and agency heads
- Legislative staff and policy advisors
- Chief data and education officers
- Analysts and SLDS leaders
- Education partners and data experts
Webinar 2: Empowering Individuals with Data
Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Time: 1–2 p.m. EST | 10–11 a.m. PST
Moderator: Kathy Booth (WestEd)
Panelists: Mary Aguayo (California College Guidance Initiative), Mary Ann Bates (California Cradle-to-Career Data System)
How can data systems directly support students, families, and practitioners in real time? Join ECS, DQC, DISC, and AISP for the second session in the SLDS webinar series on creating statewide data systems that provide useful information. This session will examine how California is designing user-centered tools that deliver timely, personalized information to support learning and career pathways.
Participants will learn from California’s Cradle to Career Data System and the California College Guidance Initiative about
- connecting individuals with actionable insights,
- streamlining college applications, and
- improving access to public services.
Webinar 1: So You Want a State Dashboard? Taking a User-Centered Approach to Making Data More Available
Watch the recording and download resources.
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Time: 1:30–2:30 p.m. ET | 10:30–11:30 a.m. PT
Moderators: Kathy Booth (WestEd) and Claus von Zastrow (ECS)
Panelists: Matt Hastings (Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System), Nora Morris (Minnesota Office of Higher Education), and Nick Armit, (Michigan MI School Data Portal)
Dashboards are among the most common features of statewide data systems, but are they designed for compliance or for action? Join ECS, DQC, DISC, and AISP in October for the first session of the SLDS webinar series on creating data tools that provide useful information. This webinar will orient participants to the User-Centered State Data System Design framework and explore how dashboards and public reports can deliver timely, actionable insights for multiple audiences, from policymakers to families.
Participants will learn strategies from Michigan, Minnesota, and Nebraska about
- engaging interest holders in system design,
- building transparency and accountability, and
- making data more usable for decision-making.
Check back because more webinars will be announced soon!
Webinar Topics:
- Webinar 1: So You Want a State Dashboard?
- Webinar 2: Empowering Individuals with Data
- Webinar 3: Maximizing the Power of Research & Analytics
- Webinar 4: Bridging Education to Workforce