Sacramento Data Sharing Pact Unites K-16 Schools

A new first-of-its-kind data sharing agreement across the entire education ecosystem in Sacramento, Calif., is aiming to help students with seamless transitions between educational institutions and to lay a firmer groundwork for students to succeed in STEM education and related careers.

The Sacramento Regional K16 Collaborative – a statewide initiative devoted to reducing educational and employment disparities – last month announced its data-sharing agreement across the Elk Grove Unified School District, the Sacramento County Office of Education, the Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento State University, and University of California, Davis.

“Our collaborative effort is a critical step towards working together on behalf of our region’s students,” said Los Rios Community College District Chancellor Brian King. “This partnership allows us to ensure that students transition seamlessly throughout our educational systems so that we can ensure they are prepared for opportunities in STEM-related careers, particularly in healthcare, engineering, and computing.”

The data-sharing agreement will provide school districts and the Sacramento County Office of Education with critical data about students’ post-graduation success; supply local colleges and universities with information about students’ previous education so that the institutions can better support students with appropriate resources; expand dual enrollment opportunities at local high schools so that students can accumulate college credit hours before graduation; and create a “secure legal and technological framework” for data sharing.

“Bringing our data systems together is essential to ensure that we have the information needed to make strategic decisions for our students’ futures,” David Gordon, superintendent of schools for Sacramento County and the chair of the K-16 collaborative, said in a statement. “We must continue pushing forward, knowing that with each new partnership and innovation, we are creating an educational landscape that is truly inclusive and transformative.”

Once the program is fully implemented, other K-12 and higher educational institutions within the region will be invited to join, the collaborative said.

“This innovative data agreement is vital to developing a health care workforce in our region,” said James Robinson III, a founding industry member of the Sacramento K-16 Collaborative. “Together, we are creating pathways for students to thrive in STEM-related careers, addressing the growing demand for skilled health care professionals, and increasing overall community health and wellness.”