Frequently Asked Questions

Why is P-20 education data needed?

Connecting student and teacher performance data across pre-school, elementary, middle, high school, college, adult education and into career (longitudinal data), and doing so comprehensively, accurately, and authoritatively, will enable policy makers to address the strengths and weaknesses of the educational pipeline and our programs like never before. Research with this data can improve student achievement and reduce achievement gaps, improve instructional practices and teacher/leader effectiveness, and ensure that all students are adequately prepared for postsecondary education, the workforce or Armed Services. State P-20 data systems are also a requirement of the federal education funding programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will support the goals of Kentucky's innovative Senate Bill 1 (2009).

Can't we already merge education data?

Each education agency has, with state and federal funding, developed data systems that serve the needs of their own agency within the limits of the data they possess. Data can be merged across systems for one-time projects, but these projects currently require individualized legal agreements, development processes and technical solutions that make poor use of state resources and limit the number and scope of available reports.

How will confidential data be protected?

After records have been matched across agency systems, they are de-identified with personally identifiable information such as name or social security number removed. Even the highest-level users will not be able to access identifiable information. Most users will only see summary-level reports. Additional measures will also be taken to further protect individual information such as restricting reports from providing data about groups whose numbers are so small that they could potentially identify a student by his or her age, race, or other characteristics.

How will KYSTATS be funded?

Funding for KYSTATS is provided through state appropriations, Federal grants, user fees and other grants or contributions from public agencies or other entities KRS 151B.132(8).



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