If you're a state leader overseeing an agency, shaping policy, or managing cross-sector initiatives, your ability to deliver results depends on having the right information at the right time. From measuring student success and tracking workforce trends to improving public health and advancing justice reform, modern data systems are the foundation of effective, responsive governance. These systems give you the visibility to see what’s working, the insight to identify the areas that are not, and the agility to respond to emerging challenges with confidence and clarity.
As states’ budgets become increasingly strained, leaders face tough decisions about where to invest limited resources. That’s why it’s more important than ever to ensure that data infrastructure investments are impactful and cost-effective. Here are three ways for states to begin.
Build a connected infrastructure with state public health data
With their operational expertise and on-the-ground insight, state agencies can play a critical role in shaping data modernization. For example, though many laboratories have adopted electronic reporting systems, manual processes are still the predominate method in clinical health settings. In addition, unclear or complex legal frameworks in some states continue to slow the flow of critical information that can improve public health outcomes. To address these challenges, states can take a comprehensive approach to modernizing their public health data systems. This includes automating clinical case reporting to reduce manual processes and improve efficiency, establishing clear legal frameworks that support secure and timely data exchange, and enhancing the quality and completeness of the data collected.
To help states strengthen their public health infrastructure, Mathematica partnered with The Pew Charitable Trusts to conduct a comprehensive 50-state assessment of public health data exchange policies. Pew used findings from the report to identify and engage three states for administrative rule updates on data reporting and to prompt legislative change in one state.
Link learning to opportunity with state education and workforce data
For state leaders focused on improving education and economic outcomes, it is essential to have a clear view of how people move through learning environments and into the labor market. Longitudinal data systems (that is, systems that connect information from early childhood through postsecondary education and into the workforce) provide that visibility. These systems make it possible for leaders to understand where students thrive, where they face barriers, and which programs lead to meaningful career opportunities. When designed well, these data systems become powerful tools for identifying where interventions are needed most and for shaping policies that promote opportunity and long-term success.
Through our Education-to-Workforce Indicator Framework, we help states align data from across their agencies to answer pressing questions about access and outcomes. Nebraska used the framework to strengthen its statewide data system, NSWERS, enabling its policymakers to benchmark progress, uncover data gaps, and develop strategies to improve data linkage and decision making.
Support reentry and reduce recidivism with state criminal justice data
In the justice sector, states and localities are more often turning to data to improve reentry programs that support people who are transitioning from incarceration into their communities. These programs aim to promote long-term stability by helping people secure employment, access services, and avoid recidivism.
By integrating information from corrections, workforce, and human services agencies, states can identify which supports are most effective for different populations, monitor outcomes over time to guide continuous improvement, and coordinate services more efficiently across agencies. This kind of cross-system collaboration enables a more holistic approach to reentry that is grounded in evidence and focused on lasting impact.
Through initiatives such as Pathway Home and PROWD (Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development), jurisdictions are using data to evaluate how well their programs meet their goals. These efforts helped participants access critical supports and employment opportunities, which lays the groundwork for more successful reintegration into their communities.
The path forward: Building smarter systems
Mathematica’s cross-sector work points to several key practices for building smarter state data systems:
- Standardizing data exchange policies. Aligning legal and technical standards across states and sectors improves interoperability and reduces confusion.
- Investing in automation and integration. Expanding electronic reporting and linking systems across agencies speeds up data collection and reduces errors.
- Fostering cross-sector collaboration. Public health, education, workforce, and justice systems intersect, so data integrated from all of these systems provides a fuller picture of a community’s well-being.
- Building capacity. States need more than better tools—they need the workforce and training to use them effectively.
From public health emergencies to persistent education and workforce challenges, the challenges facing state governments are complex and fast-moving. Smarter data systems help states stay ahead of these challenges and ensure that policies are grounded in real-time action-ready insights. They can also help maximize constrained budgets by enhancing efficiency, reducing duplication, and ensuring spending aligns with goals and priorities.
At Mathematica, we partner with states to modernize their data systems with better technology and better strategy. Our work spans sectors and geographies, offering a road map for how states can build data systems that are more cost-effective, smarter, and more responsive to the people they serve. We believe that better data lead to better decisions and better outcomes. Contact us to learn how we can help you modernize your data systems.
