105 ILCS 13/ P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act.

(105 ILCS 13/1)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act.

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

(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.)

(105 ILCS 13/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Community College Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.

"Community colleges" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-2 of the Public Community College Act.

"Early learning" means any publicly funded education and care program supporting young children not yet enrolled in kindergarten.

"Elementary" means kindergarten through eighth grade.

"Institution of higher learning" means a public or non-public entity that meets one or more of the following:

(1) is a public institution of higher education as defined in the Board of Higher Education Act, other than a public community college;

(2) is a public institution of higher education funded by a State other than Illinois and approved by the Board of Higher Education to operate in this State;

(3) is a non-public educational institution approved by the Board of Higher Education to operate in this State pursuant to the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012;

(4) is a non-public institution authorized or approved by the Board of Higher Education to operate in this State pursuant to the Private College Act, the Academic Degree Act, or the Dual Credit Quality Act; or

(5) is a non-public institution operating in this State that is exempt from authorization or approval by the Board of Higher Education pursuant to provisions of the Private College Act or Academic Degree Act, including such institutions authorized or approved by the Board of Higher Education pursuant to the Dual Credit Quality Act.

"Longitudinal data system" means a student unit record data system that links student records from early learning through the postsecondary level, which may consist of separate student unit record systems integrated through agreement and data transfer mechanisms.

"Privacy protection laws" means the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g), the Illinois School Student Records Act, the Personal Information Protection Act, and any other State or federal law relating to the confidentiality and protection of personally identifiable information.

"Research organization" means a governmental entity, institution of higher learning, public policy or advocacy organization, or other person or entity conducting educational research that (i) is qualified to perform educational research and protect the privacy of student data, (ii) is seeking to perform research for a non-commercial purpose authorized by privacy protection laws, and (iii) agrees to perform the research pursuant to a written agreement meeting the requirements of privacy protection laws and this Act.

"School" means any elementary or secondary educational institution, charter school, vocational school, special education facility, or any other elementary or secondary educational agency or institution, but does not include a non-public school.

"Secondary" means ninth through twelfth grade.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

"State Education Authorities" means the State Board, Community College Board, and Board of Higher Education.

(Source: P.A. 102-1046, eff. 6-7-22.)

(105 ILCS 13/15)

Sec. 15. Establishment of the longitudinal data system and data warehouse.

(a) The State Education Authorities shall jointly establish and maintain a longitudinal data system by entering into one or more agreements that link early learning, elementary, and secondary school student unit records with institution of higher learning student unit records. To the extent authorized by this Section and Section 20 of this Act:

(1) the State Board is responsible for collecting and maintaining authoritative enrollment, completion, and student characteristic information on early learning, public school (kindergarten through grade 12), and non-public school (kindergarten through grade 12) students;

(2) the Community College Board is responsible for collecting and maintaining authoritative enrollment, completion, and student characteristic information on community college students; and

(3) the Board of Higher Education is responsible for collecting and maintaining authoritative enrollment, completion, and student characteristic information on students enrolled in institutions of higher learning, other than community colleges.

(b) On or before June 30, 2013, subject to the availability of funding through appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this Act, the State Education Authorities shall improve and expand the longitudinal data system to enable the State Education Authorities to perform or cause to be performed all of the following activities and functions:

(1) Reduce, to the maximum extent possible, the data collection burden on school districts and institutions of higher learning by using data submitted to the system for multiple reporting and analysis functions.

(2) Provide authorized officials of early learning programs, schools, school districts, and institutions of higher learning with access to their own student-level data, summary reports, and data that can be integrated with additional data maintained outside of the system to inform education decision-making.

(3) Link data to instructional management tools that support instruction and assist collaboration among teachers and postsecondary instructors.

(4) Enhance and expand existing high school-to-postsecondary reporting systems to inform school and school district officials, education policymakers, and members of the public about public school students' performance in postsecondary education.

(5) Provide data reporting, analysis, and planning tools that assist with financial oversight, human resource management, and other education support functions.

(6) Improve student access to educational opportunities by linking data to student college and career planning portals, facilitating the submission of electronic transcripts and scholarship and financial aid applications, and enabling the transfer of student records to officials of a school or institution of higher learning where a student enrolls or seeks or intends to enroll.

(7) Establish a public Internet web interface that provides non-confidential data reports and permits queries so that parents, the media, and other members of the public can more easily access information pertaining to statewide, district, and school performance.

(8) Provide research and reports to the General Assembly that assist with evaluating the effectiveness of specific programs and that enable legislators to analyze educational performance within their legislative districts.

(9) Allow the State Education Authorities to efficiently meet federal and State reporting requirements by drawing data for required reports from multiple State systems.

(10) Establish a system to evaluate teacher and administrator preparation programs using student academic growth as one component of evaluation.

(11) In accordance with a data sharing agreement entered into between the State Education Authorities and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, establish procedures and systems to evaluate the relationship between need-based financial aid and student enrollment and success in institutions of higher learning.

(12) In accordance with data sharing agreements entered into between the State Education Authorities and health and human service agencies, establish procedures and systems to evaluate the relationship between education and other student and family support systems.

(13) In accordance with data sharing agreements entered into between the State Education Authorities and employment and workforce development agencies, establish procedures and systems to evaluate the relationship between education programs and outcomes and employment fields, employment locations, and employment outcomes.

(c) On or before June 30, 2013, subject to the availability of funding through appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this Act, the State Board shall establish a data warehouse that integrates data from multiple student unit record systems and supports all of the uses and functions of the longitudinal data system set forth in this Act. The data warehouse must be developed in cooperation with the Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education and must have the ability to integrate longitudinal data from early learning through the postsecondary level in accordance with one or more data sharing agreements entered into among the State Education Authorities. The data warehouse, as integrated with the longitudinal data system, must include, but is not limited to, all of the following elements:

(1) A unique statewide student identifier that connects student data across key databases across years. The unique statewide student identifier must not be derived from a student's social security number and must be provided to institutions of higher learning to assist with linkages between early learning through secondary and postsecondary data.

(2) Student-level enrollment, demographic, and program participation information, including information on participation in dual credit programs.

(3) The ability to match individual students' elementary and secondary test records from year to year to measure academic growth.

(4) Information on untested students in the elementary and secondary levels, and the reasons they were not tested.

(5) A teacher and administrator identifier system with the ability to match students to early learning, elementary, and secondary teachers and elementary and secondary administrators. Information able to be obtained only as a result of the linkage of teacher and student data through the longitudinal data system may not be used by a school district for decisions involving teacher pay or teacher benefits unless the district and the exclusive bargaining representative of the district's teachers, if any, have agreed to this use. Information able to be obtained only as a result of the linkage of teacher and student data through the longitudinal data system may not be used by a school district as part of an evaluation under Article 24A of the School Code unless, in good faith cooperation with the school district's teachers or, where applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of the school district's teachers, the school district has developed an evaluation plan or substantive change to an evaluation plan that specifically describes the school district's rationale for using this information for evaluations, how this information will be used as part of the evaluation process, and how this information will relate to evaluation standards. However, nothing in this subdivision (5) or elsewhere in this Act limits or restricts (i) a district's use of any local or State data that has been obtained independently from the linkage of teacher and student data through the longitudinal data system or (ii) a charter school's use of any local or State data in connection with teacher pay, benefits, or evaluations.

(6) Student-level transcript information, including information on courses completed and grades earned, from middle and high schools. The State Board shall establish a statewide course classification system based upon the federal School Codes for Exchange of Data or a similar course classification system. Each school district and charter school shall map its course descriptions to the statewide course classification system for the purpose of State reporting. School districts and charter schools are not required to change or modify the locally adopted course descriptions used for all other purposes. The State Board shall establish or contract for the establishment of a technical support and training system to assist schools and districts with the implementation of this item (6) and shall, to the extent possible, collect transcript data using a system that permits automated reporting from district student information systems.

(7) Student-level college readiness test scores.

(8) Student-level graduation and dropout data.

(9) The ability to match early learning through secondary student unit records with institution of higher learning student unit record systems.

(10) A State data audit system assessing data quality, validity, and reliability.

(d) Using data provided to and maintained by the longitudinal data system, the State Education Authorities may, in addition to functions and activities specified elsewhere in this Section, perform and undertake the following:

(1) research for or on behalf of early learning programs, schools, school districts, or institutions of higher learning, which may be performed by one or more State Education Authorities or through agreements with research organizations meeting all of the requirements of this Act and privacy protection laws; and

(2) audits or evaluations of federal or State-supported education programs and activities to enforce federal or State legal requirements with respect to those programs. Each State Education Authority may assist another State Education Authority with audit, evaluation, or enforcement activities and may disclose education records with each other for those activities relating to any early learning through postsecondary program. The State Education Authorities may disclose student information to authorized officials of a student's former early learning program, school, or school district to assist with the evaluation of federal or State-supported education programs.

(e) In establishing, operating, and expanding the longitudinal data system, the State Education Authorities shall convene stakeholders and create opportunities for input and advice in the areas of data ownership, data use, research priorities, data management, confidentiality, data access, and reporting from the system. Such stakeholders include, but are not limited to, public and non-public institutions of higher learning, school districts, charter schools, non-public elementary and secondary schools, early learning programs, teachers, professors, parents, principals and administrators, school research consortiums, education policy and advocacy organizations, news media, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the Illinois Education Research Council, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Early Learning Council, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

(f) Representatives of the State Education Authorities shall report to and advise the Illinois P-20 Council on the implementation, operation, and expansion of the longitudinal data system.

(g) Appropriations made to the State Education Authorities for the purposes of this Act shall be used exclusively for expenses for the development and operation of the longitudinal data system. Authorized expenses of the State Education Authorities may relate to contracts with outside vendors for the development and operation of the system, agreements with other governmental entities or research organizations for authorized uses and functions of the system, technical support and training for entities submitting data to the system, or regular or contractual employees necessary for the system's development or operation.

(Source: P.A. 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

(105 ILCS 13/20)

Sec. 20. Collection and maintenance of data.

(a) The State Board is authorized to collect and maintain data from school districts, schools, and early learning programs and disclose this data to the longitudinal data system for the purposes set forth in this Act. The State Board shall collect data from charter schools with more than one campus in a manner that can be disaggregated by campus site. The State Board may also disclose data to the longitudinal data system that the State Board is otherwise authorized by law to collect and maintain.

On or before July 1, 2010, the State Board shall establish procedures through which State-recognized, non-public schools may elect to participate in the longitudinal data system by disclosing data to the State Board for one or more of the purposes set forth in this Act.

Subject to the availability of funding through appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this Act, the State Board shall establish or contract for the establishment of a technical support and training system to assist school districts, schools, and early learning programs with data submission, use, and analysis.

(b) The Community College Board is authorized to collect and maintain data from community college districts and disclose this data to the longitudinal data system for the purposes set forth in this Act. The Community College Board may also disclose data to the longitudinal data system that the Community College Board is otherwise authorized by law to collect and maintain.

Subject to the availability of funding through appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this Act, the Community College Board shall establish or contract for the establishment of a technical support and training system to assist community colleges with data submission, use, and analysis.

(c) The Board of Higher Education is authorized to collect and maintain data from any institution of higher learning, other than community colleges, and disclose this data to the longitudinal data system for the purposes set forth in this Act. The Board of Higher Education may also disclose data to the longitudinal data system that the Board of Higher Education is otherwise authorized by law to collect and maintain.

The Board of Higher Education is authorized to collect and maintain data from any non-public institution of higher learning enrolling one or more students in this State. The Board of Higher Education is authorized to disclose this data to the longitudinal data system for the purposes set forth in this Act.

Subject to the availability of funding through appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this Act, the Board of Higher Education shall establish or contract for the establishment of a technical support and training system to assist institutions of higher learning, other than community colleges, with data submission, use, and analysis. The Board of Higher Education shall engage in a cooperative planning process with public and non-public institutions of higher learning and statewide higher education associations in connection with all of the activities authorized by this subsection (c).

(d) The State Education Authorities shall establish procedures and requirements relating to the submission of data authorized to be collected pursuant to this Section, including requirements for data specifications, quality, security, and timeliness. All early learning programs, schools, school districts, and institutions of higher learning subject to the data collection authority of a State Education Authority pursuant to this Section shall comply with the State Education Authority's procedures and requirements for data submissions. A State Education Authority may require that staff responsible for collecting, validating, and submitting data participate in training and technical assistance offered by this State if data is not submitted in accordance with applicable procedures and requirements.

(Source: P.A. 102-1046, eff. 6-7-22.)

(105 ILCS 13/25)

Sec. 25. Data sharing.

(a) The State Education Authorities may disclose data from the longitudinal data system collected pursuant to Section 20 of this Act only in connection with a data sharing arrangement meeting the requirements of this Section.

(b) Any State agency, board, authority, or commission may enter into a data sharing arrangement with one or more of the State Education Authorities to share data to support the research and evaluation activities authorized by this Act. State Education Authorities may also enter into data sharing arrangements with other governmental entities, institutions of higher learning, and research organizations that support the research and evaluation activities authorized by this Act.

(c) Any data sharing arrangement entered into pursuant to this Section must:

(1) be permissible under and undertaken in accordance with privacy protection laws;

(2) be approved by the following persons:

(A) the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee for the use of early learning, public school, and non-public school student data;

(B) the chief executive officer of the Community College Board or his or her designee for the use of community college student data; and

(C) the executive director of the Board of Higher Education or his or her designee for the use of student data from an institution of higher learning, other than a community college;

(3) not permit the personal identification of any person by individuals other than authorized representatives of the recipient entity that have legitimate interests in the information;

(4) ensure the destruction or return of the data when no longer needed for the authorized purposes under the data sharing arrangement; and

(5) be performed pursuant to a written agreement with the recipient entity that does the following:

(A) specifies the purpose, scope, and duration of the data sharing arrangement;

(B) requires the recipient of the data to use personally identifiable information from education records to meet only the purpose or purposes of the data sharing arrangement stated in the written agreement;

(C) describes specific data access, use, and security restrictions that the recipient will undertake; and

(D) includes such other terms and provisions as the State Education Authorities deem necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of this Act.

(d) Data that has been submitted to the Board by a consortium of non-public colleges and universities is prohibited from being included in any interstate data-sharing agreements with other states unless consortium participants agree to allow interstate data sharing.

Any non-public college may prohibit its data from being shared with any other state.

Any non-public college may prohibit its data from being included in any interstate data-sharing agreement.

(Source: P.A. 96-107, eff. 7-30-09; 96-1249, eff. 7-23-10.)

(105 ILCS 13/30)

Sec. 30. Subject to privacy protection laws. The collection, use, maintenance, disclosure, and sharing of data authorized by this Act must be conducted in accordance with privacy protection laws. The State Education Authorities shall each develop security measures and procedures that 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.)

(105 ILCS 13/35)

Sec. 35. No impact on existing authority. This Act does not modify or diminish any responsibilities or authority that a State Education Authority or the State Education Authorities collectively may otherwise have under law with respect to the collection, use, maintenance, disclosure, and sharing of data.

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

(105 ILCS 13/40)

Sec. 40. Evaluation. Subject to the availability of funding through appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this Act, the State Education Authorities shall contract with an independent outside evaluator for oversight of the development and operation of the longitudinal data system. The independent outside evaluator shall annually submit a report to the State Education Authorities, the Illinois P-20 Council, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the President and Minority Leader of the Senate. The report shall include without limitation (i) an evaluation of the extent to which the system is being developed and operated to achieve the purposes, objectives, and requirements of this Act; (ii) an evaluation of the oversight and governance of the system by the State Education Authorities and any recommendations to improve the oversight and governance of the system; and (iii) an evaluation of the security measures and procedures developed by the State Education Authorities to protect personally identifiable information and any recommendations to further ensure the privacy of personally identifiable information.

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

(105 ILCS 13/500)

Sec. 500. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).

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

(105 ILCS 13/505)

Sec. 505. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted).

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

(105 ILCS 13/999)

Sec. 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

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