A data-sharing initiative known as the Multistate Longitudinal Data Exchange (MLDE) was launched in six Western states to link data from K-12, higher education, and labor sources using a secure and stable exchange process.

The exchange has been piloted in six states in an expansion project conducted by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The initiative was designed to allow participating states to safely exchange educational and employment data across state lines to develop a fuller picture of how well their educational and employment systems are performing.

The Rutgers Education & Employment Research Center (EERC) evaluated the implementation of the MLDE that focused on numerous issues, including potential users’ views of participating with the exchange, the communications needs of potential partners, the development of data-use plans, the experience of states involved in the exchange, and their level of commitment to the MLDE.

MLDE Issues Briefs

Website: wiche.edu/longitudinalDataExchange