CARSON CITY -- The state Department of Education today announced Nevada has been selected as a $4 million grant recipient from The Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Nevada was awarded one of 24 new state-level grants to support the design and implementation of Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS).

Nevada’s grant allocates $4 million in a three-year cycle. The funds will allow the Nevada Department of Education much needed access to link, by the use of one unique student identifier, students starting from pre-kindergarten through high school and following them through postsecondary education and workforce development.

Governor Sandoval has asked that this strategy of college and career ready data be used to better student outcomes and to fill Nevada’s diverse economic job needs. “All the accountability measures we have enacted require better use of data,” Sandoval said. “This grant will move Nevada closer to a fully integrated system that follows learners from childhood to adulthood.”

Julian Montoya, Assistant Director of Assessment Data and Program Accountability, stated that “having this type of P-20W data will allow us to develop an early warning system. With an early warning system, we can direct students to the type of college or career ready jobs and into a field which will allow them a successful outcome for both the student and their State.”