Oklahoma is at a disadvantage when it comes to making informed decisions on education and our future workforce. The data currently gathered by multiple state agencies within the education and workforce space is not connected, creating the inability to measure the long-term effectiveness of education programs and workforce readiness. Oklahoma is one of the few states that lacks an effective Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS), which would allow the state to better track student outcomes, such as a student’s path from the classroom into the workforce. Senate Bill 224, authored by Sen. Ally Seifried, would create the Oklahoma Education and Workforce Statewide Longitudinal Data System, as well as a nine-member SLDS Governance Council to oversee development, implementation and operation. “Chamber members are valued for their input on a variety of important issues, including education and workforce development,” said Rhonda Baker, director of education for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. “The GOKC education policy committee members have been supportive of a statewide longitudinal data system so that policymakers, education, and business leaders can leverage real-time data analytics to quickly address challenges and opportunities within our workforce development and educational systems. We all agree that education and workforce development are connected, so we must be able to analyze data in a timely manner OKLAHOMA SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DATA SYSTEM
to provide the best educational and workforce training opportunities for our students and future workforce.” An SLDS is critical to the long-term success of Oklahoma students and workers because it integrates data from early learning systems, K-12, higher education, career tech and workforce development. Linking this data ensures better policy decisions to help measure long-term student success and the effectiveness of education policies. This will ensure data-driven education funding and program development, as well as improve workforce alignment by tracking whether Oklahoma students remain in the state for jobs. There are challenges with the current system, including: • Data is fragmented across multiple agencies. • No comprehensive tracking of student outcomes from early education through workforce participation. • Inability to measure the long-term effectiveness of education programs and workforce readiness.
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