Recently, the Workforce Data Quality Campaign (WDQC), a national initiative that advocates for inclusive, aligned and market-relevant data systems used for advancing the nation's skilled workforce, released an initial report outlining the campaign's five-point agenda for reform. ACTE was a founding partner of WDQC and is actively involved in pursuing the campaign's agenda.
The report, titled "Making Workforce Data Work," includes background information on the campaign, lays out the WDQC's policy priorities, and includes real-world examples of the ways that data is helping to strengthen education, governance and business. It is designed to make a compelling case for improving education and workforce data, and to give state and federal leaders actionable ideas to move forward. The WDQC agenda includes:
- including all students and pathways
- counting industry-recognized credentials
- assessing employment outcomes for all participants
- expanding use of labor market information
- ensuring data access and appropriate use
In other data news, the Department of Labor recently announced the availability of applications for its next round of Workforce Data Quality Initiative Grants. The grants are designed to help states improve the quality and availability of workforce data and better understand how education and workforce development programs complement each other by linking education and workforce data in state longitudinal data systems. In this fourth round of the grants, six states are expected to split the $6 million available. Grant materials are available on grants.gov and applications are due on March 25, 2014.
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