Building an Education to Workforce Data Framework

Every student deserves an education that prepares them for the future -- one that equips them with the skills they need to thrive.

But how well is your education system performing for students? How well is your workforce system creating the right talent pipeline for the jobs of tomorrow? And how can data be used more effectively to inform decisions about how to best meet students’ needs?

Education and workforce leaders in communities across the country are using data and information to create a more holistic view of students’ learning journeys. And states are supporting those efforts with connected data systems such as Washington’s Education Research and Data Center and California’s Cradle-to-Career Data System. But it can be hard for leaders at all levels – local, regional, or state leaders – to know how to get started or what information is needed to produce actionable insights.

On October 17, join Governing, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mathematica, and a state data leader for a special webinar on creating an education-to-workforce data framework for your community that helps decision makers prioritize and act on the measures that matter most. This hourlong webcast will cover:

Why a holistic education-to-workforce data approach matters
How this framework is being used in states like Washington and around the country
How to connect to evidence-based resources to build a plan for your own community

Speaker and Presenter Information

Naihobe Gonzalez, Senior Researcher Mathematica

Naihobe Gonzalez is a senior researcher at Mathematica with over a decade of experience collaborating with education leaders to promote data-driven decision making. Dr. Gonzalez led the development of the Education-to-Workforce Indicator Framework and has led several evaluations of education initiatives. For example, she is a principal investigator on a large-scale evaluation of an initiative that supports schools across the country in using continuous improvement to advance outcomes for low-income students and students of color. Before joining Mathematica, she was a strategic data consultant with the Oakland Unified School District, where she helped the district develop a school performance and data reporting framework. She holds a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University.

Orville Jackson, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Katie Randall-Weaver, Director, Education Research & Data Center (ERDC)

Zach Patton — Moderator