Guidance to Collect and Use Data

Advancing educational and economic opportunity for all

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About the Framework

The E-W Framework offers guidance for using data to promote equitable outcomes and economic security for all. Developed with input from leading experts from over 20 national and community organizations, it highlights key connections needed between systems to support students as they progress from early education through their career.

Essential Questions

Questions essential for E-W data systems to answer about how students are progressing from early education through career—and using the answers to guide action.

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Indicators

Student outcomes and milestones and related system conditions associated with economic mobility and security, plus guidance on how to measure them.

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Disaggregates

Characteristics that E-W systems should use to break down data, plus guidance on how to collect them.

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Evidence Based Practices

Examples of practices shown to move the needle on key outcomes and system conditions, plus guidance on how to select them.

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Data Equity Principles

Principles for centering equity throughout the data life cycle to encourage more ethical and effective data use, plus guidance on how to apply them.

View Principles

Data in Action: Education-to-Workforce Case Studies

From Data to Action: Nebraska’s Blueprint for Education and Workforce Success

Through its robust research framework and innovative data visualizations, Nebraska's NSWERS system transforms complex data into actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and families.

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Grounding DC’s Education Through Employment Data System in Economic Opportunity

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DC's forthcoming data system will provide policymakers, researchers, and the public with a clear picture of opportunities and supports that are priming DC residents for economic mobility.

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California's Cradle-to-Career Data System

California is developing a data system that brings together data from early learning programs, schools, colleges, financial aid providers, employers, workforce training programs, and social services.

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Access to Student-Level FAFSA Completion Data in Iowa

Staff in all public high schools in Iowa can now access data on whether their students completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and receive weekly FAFSA reports.

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ImpactTulsa’s Child Equity Index

ImpactTulsa partnered with Tulsa Public Schools to build a data visualization tool for exploring how environmental conditions vary across neighborhoods and their relationships to academic outcomes.

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National Student Clearinghouse Postsecondary Data Partnership

The National Student Clearinghouse launched this partnership to equip participating postsecondary institutions with timely data and tools that can inform decision making.

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View All E-W Case Studies

E-W Framework Report

The E-W Framework report (August 2022) lays a foundation for organizations to work together to share data across sectors to support students as they progress from early education through their career. Note: Framework recommendations are periodically updated online as new evidence emerges. Please refer to the website for the most up-to-date content.

Download full E-W report

Report PDF (8.69 MB)

Or download report sections

News & Events

E-W Framework Newsletter: March 2025

This newsletter describes several recent website enhancements. It also highlights resources and news from our partners including ECDC, the Urban Institute, AEM, NSWERS, and Dr. Adrian Neely.

NewsMarch 28, 2025

Advancing Kindergarten Readiness - March 26

Register for StriveTogether’s Cradle-to-Career Outcomes: Kindergarten Readiness course to explore evidence-based strategies and engage in live discussions on advancing equitable early learning.

EventMarch 26, 2025