Enhancing Federal Educational Data for Student Outcomes Can Contribute to Lowering Student Loan Burdens
The Center for Data Innovation is hosting a webinar on the 25th of January, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (EST), focusing on the challenges and opportunities of providing better data for higher education. The event aims to shed light on how better data can help students make informed decisions about their future and navigate the complex landscape of higher education.
The webinar will delve into the current state of legislation aimed at improving access to higher education data. One such promising bill is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), which proposes linking federal financial aid eligibility to graduates’ earnings exceeding state medians. While the legislative outcome remains uncertain, the bill represents a potential shift towards data-driven accountability in higher education.
The discussion will also cover ongoing regulatory rulemaking for Title IV programs, which could influence data reporting and access for federal student aid programs. However, specific new legislation on data access itself is embedded within broader regulatory negotiations.
In light of these developments, student privacy protections continue to be a crucial consideration. The Department of Education enforces student privacy laws such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which govern access to student educational records and rights. These laws will shape how any expanded data sharing or access mechanisms can be implemented to protect student privacy.
The current policy environment for higher education data policies is complex and changing, with broader federal education policy shifts underway but currently separate from specific data access legislation.
The webinar will feature expert speakers from various fields, including research, policy, advocacy, data, and federal relations. Rachel Gentry Rotunda, Director of Federal Relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Charles Ansell, Vice President for Research, Policy, and Advocacy at Complete College America, and Jennifer Engle, Director of Data for the U.S. Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are among the speakers. The event will be moderated by Morgan Stevens, Research Assistant at the Center for Data Innovation.
The webinar will provide insights on how better data can help students with their higher education pursuits, covering the steps policymakers can take to address the barriers in providing comprehensive data for higher education. It will also highlight the need for students and their families to have better information on the expected outcomes for specific fields of study at particular colleges and universities.
As the cost of higher education in the United States has nearly tripled in the past 40 years, better data would help students make more informed choices about their futures. The webinar is a timely and important discussion that promises to provide valuable insights into the future of higher education data access.
- The webinar, focusing on data in higher education, will explore how policy and legislation, such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), can influence access to education data and create a data-driven accountability in education.
- The event will delve into the current complex policy environment, discussing ongoing regulatory rulemaking for Title IV programs that could shape data reporting and access for federal student aid programs.
- Amidst these developments, the importance of maintaining student privacy protections, like FERPA and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, will be emphasized, ensuring student records remain secure while opening avenues for comprehensive data access.
- The webinar will feature a panel of experts from various fields, including research, policy, advocacy, data, and federal relations, discussing the need for better education data to help students make informed choices about their futures and navigating the higher education landscape.
