(105 ILCS 13/5)

Sec. 5. Findings; declarations. The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Sound data collection, reporting, and analysis are critical to building a State education system capable of ensuring all Illinois students are adequately prepared for college and the global workforce. School districts and institutions of higher learning can improve instructional and educational decision-making using data that is collected and made available by this State.

(2) Reliable and sufficient education data is necessary to ensure that this State bases education policy decisions on valid, objective measures of student outcomes. Publicly accessible data on State, school district, and school performance allows the citizens of this State to assess local and statewide investments in education.

(3) A national collaborative effort among State education officials, national education organizations, and state and federal policymakers has defined the essential elements a State longitudinal data system should contain. Public Law 110-69, the America COMPETES Act, requires state longitudinal data systems to include all 10 elements identified by this national, collaborative effort for states to qualify for federal funding opportunities. The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requires states to establish longitudinal data systems with all 10 elements to qualify for federal funding for education, public safety, and other government services.

(4) Public Law 110-134 requires the Illinois Early Learning Council to develop recommendations regarding the establishment of a unified data collection system for public early childhood education and development programs and services throughout this State, and those efforts should be coordinated with the development of this State's longitudinal data system.

(5) State education policymaking benefits from partnerships between State education agencies and entities with expertise in education research, including school districts, institutions of higher learning, and research organizations. This State should establish systems and processes to permit qualified researchers to assist with State evaluation and research functions in a manner consistent with privacy protection laws.

(6) State education systems and national policymaking benefit from multi-state collaborations that are informed by high quality data collection systems.

(7) This State is committed to establishing and maintaining a longitudinal student unit record data system that educators and policymakers can use to analyze and assess student progress from early learning programs through postsecondary education and into employment. The State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education have designed, built, and deployed some of the fundamental components of a longitudinal data system and have engaged in extensive efforts to effectively link and use available education data. However, the various education data components maintained by this State must be integrated and managed in a cooperative manner to establish a data-driven, decision-making environment for this State's education system.

(8) The longitudinal data system established by this Act is intended, among other purposes, to link student test scores, length of enrollment, and graduation records over time, as permitted by Section 1111(b)(3)(B) of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)(B)).

(9) Students will achieve improved learning outcomes as a result of the longitudinal data system established by this Act through instruction and educational programs informed by valid and reliable data.

(10) State use and management of education data must be in accordance with all legal requirements protecting student privacy and must protect personal information from intentional or accidental release to unauthorized persons and from intentional or accidental use for unauthorized purposes.

(Source: P.A. 96-107, eff. 7-30-09.)