SLEDS Federal Grant Awarded for Enhanced Data Linkages, Literacy and Use

 

Contact: Jen Fox, (651) 259-3971
Minnesota P-20 Data System, SLEDS and ECLDS

St. Paul, M.N. — Minnesota Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS) and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS) won a seven million dollar award from the latest Institute of Education Sciences (IES) grant competition.

"In our constant effort to better support students, the Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System provides critical information about what happens to students post high school. This grant will play an important role in strengthening the system and ensuring we invest in the right strategies to provide every student with the skills they need to succeed in career and college," Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said.

"This federal grant will expand the use of the Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System and allow our agency to enhance efforts to measure workforce and educational alignment to ensure Minnesotans in the talent pipeline have the skills to meet employers' needs," said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben.

Only 16 states were awarded grants. Minnesota's strong data systems and robust data use are credited for the award. This grant will be the third grant award for SLEDS and the second for ECLDS. Through this grant award, SLEDS and ECLDS will facilitate improved data collection, create innovative user tools and expanded outreach to enhance stakeholder's data literacy, and link to existing data with new data sources to expand the information available to the public.

A peer reviewer of the grant competition commented, "the result [of Minnesota's grant projects] will be a data system with an unusually powerful potential..." From the Graduate Employment Outcomes (GEO) Tool to the SLEDS Mobile Analytics Site, SLEDS and ECLDS continue to develop data systems which make valuable data accessible and applicable to all Minnesotan's. This grant cycle will award 3.5 million dollar awards in each area for a total of seven million over four years.

"This new grant cycle represents a critical next step in data linking and use," said OHE Commissioner Larry Pogemiller. "The projects we will work toward over the next four years will guide our public service and the use of mobile analytics."

SLEDS and ECLDS are joint effort from Minnesota's Office of Higher Education (OHE), the Department of Education (MDE), Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Health (MDH) and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). SLEDS brings together data from education and workforce to identify viable pathways for individuals in achieving successful outcomes in education and work. It will also inform decisions to support and improve education and workforce policy, helping to create a more seamless education and workforce system for all Minnesotans.

For more information, contact Jen Fox at (651) 259-3971 or by e-mail at jennifer.fox@state.mn.us.