Neglecting the 'L' in a Longitudinal Integrated Data System Can Be a Costly Mistake

The title of this report — Neglecting the “L” in a Longitudinal Integrated Data System Can be a Costly Mistake — is intended to send a clear message to the funders, designers and managers of P-20W SLDS initiatives that immediate short-term coverage capabilities only permit access to tip-of-the-iceberg return on investment rewards. Hidden from view in the early years of these initiatives is the long-term value that can be achieved if attention is paid to the importance of sustained “L” coverage. Valid public concern about administrative record confidentiality and permissible use is recognized by a prudent integrated data system manager as a warning that inattention to content can result in irreversible untoward consequences. One expression of public concern has been definition of a maximum time span that integrated data system content can be maintained. A related concern has been expressed through restriction of data use to an original defined purpose. Our research design responds to both the time limit and original purpose restrictions by exploring how opportunities to achieve public and private benefits may be lost without an offsetting gain in public comfort about the integrity of integrated data system security. The content of this report builds on a foundation of multiple continuing collaborations and interagency partnerships that began in 1990 with authorized access to confidential administrative records for all 1984 fall semester public community college first-time enrollees in Maryland, initially matched with the State’s UI wage records for the years 1985-1990.Linkage of former community college student administrative records with a state’s UI wage records, using a Social Security number identifier, is not new. Pioneering initiatives began in the 1970s. Our contribution here is new because we received authorized access to additional confidential administrative data sources that expand the scope of actionable insights that a robust integrated data system offers. Summarizing what we have learned to date, the combination of Maryland UI wage record coverage, out-of-state UI wage record coverage, federal civilian employee coverage, University System of Maryland data files, social safety-net program coverage, and workforce program coverage, resulted in our ability to still find relevant information about at least 75% of the 1984 community college enrollees in 2011, after more than 25 years have elapsed. We hasten to add that at no time has the identity of an individual former student been disclosed as our research has proceeded. All retained records are encrypted and findings are carefully reviewed for potential disclosure risk prior to release. The title of this report — Neglecting the “L” in a Longitudinal Integrated Data System Can be a Costly Mistake — is intended to send a clear message to the funders, designers and managers of P-20W SLDS initiatives that immediate short-term coverage capabilities only permit access to tip-of-the-iceberg return on investment rewards. Hidden from view in the early years of these initiatives is the long-term value that can be achieved if attention is paid to the importance of sustained “L” coverage. Valid public concern about administrative record confidentiality and permissible use is recognized by a prudent integrated data system manager as a warning that inattention to content can result in irreversible untoward consequences. One expression of public concern has been definition of a maximum time span that integrated data system content can be maintained. A related concern has been expressed through restriction of data use to an original defined purpose. Our research design responds to both the time limit and original purpose restrictions by exploring how opportunities to achieve public and private benefits may be lost without an offsetting gain in public comfort about the integrity of integrated data system security. The content of this report builds on a foundation of multiple continuing collaborations and interagency partnerships that began in 1990 with authorized access to confidential administrative records for all 1984 fall semester public community college first-time enrollees in Maryland, initially matched with the State’s UI wage records for the years 1985-1990.Linkage of former community college student administrative records with a state’s UI wage records, using a Social Security number identifier, is not new. Pioneering initiatives began in the 1970s. Our contribution here is new because we received authorized access to additional confidential administrative data sources that expand the scope of actionable insights that a robust integrated data system offers. Summarizing what we have learned to date, the combination of Maryland UI wage record coverage, out-of-state UI wage record coverage, federal civilian employee coverage, University System of Maryland data files, social safety-net program coverage, and workforce program coverage, resulted in our ability to still find relevant information about at least 75% of the 1984 community college enrollees in 2011, after more than 25 years have elapsed. We hasten to add that at no time has the identity of an individual former student been disclosed as our research has proceeded. All retained records are encrypted and findings are carefully reviewed for potential disclosure risk prior to release.