The Kentucky Longitudinal Data System (KLDS) was first established in 2009 with funding from the State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) Grant Program. This system allowed Kentucky to begin linking early childhood education data to high school completion rates and tracking workforce outcomes for college graduates.
However, maintaining and expanding KLDS required more than just funding—it needed collaboration and trust among multiple state agencies. KYSTATS (Kentucky Center for Statistics) was created in 2012 to maintain the Kentucky Longitudinal Data System (KLDS). Over time, KYSTATS has worked to strengthen and expand this system, helping Kentucky make more informed decisions about education and workforce development.
To encourage participation from various state agencies, KYSTATS focused on delivering value to data contributors. Today, the organization integrates data from 47 different sources, providing a more complete picture of the links between education and workforce outcomes across Kentucky.
A key component of KYSTATS’ success is its collaborative approach. The organization regularly engages partners to shape its Research Agenda, which is updated every two years based on input from agencies and policymakers. The 2023-2025 Research Agenda focuses on:
- Increasing data access, usage, and usability for policymakers and the public.
- Using data to analyze how different backgrounds and experiences impact education and workforce outcomes.
- Monitoring how major events affect long-term career and education trends.
- Expanding predictive analytics and modeling to anticipate workforce needs.
One of the key lessons from KYSTATS is that organizations are more likely to share data when they see clear benefits. By demonstrating the value of data integration—both for government agencies and the public—KYSTATS has built a system that helps policymakers make informed decisions, supports workforce planning, and increases transparency. For other states looking to replicate this success, accessibility and trust are critical. KYSTATS ensures that data is available to partner organizations through transparent processes, while also making de-identified public data accessible to maintain privacy.
With KYSTATS leading the way, Kentucky now has a more robust system for tracking education and workforce trends, helping leaders understand how early education, high school graduation, and college completion impact the economy.
Access the KYSTATS dashboard here. Learn more about KYSTATS here.