DQC Iowa Snapshot COB
The Data Quality Campaign’s 2025 Iowa State Snapshot highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in building effective education data systems. Iowa has made strides in leveraging longitudinal data to improve student outcomes; However, gaps related to access, consistency, and usability persist across districts. The state has prioritized modernizing its education data infrastructure, aligning local systems with state-level reporting requirements to reduce administrative burden while supporting classroom decision-making.
One key finding is that while Iowa educators value data-informed instruction, many still face barriers, including siloed platforms, limited interoperability, and insufficient professional development. Without seamless integration, teachers often lack timely insights into student progress, which limits their ability to provide targeted support. The report emphasizes that modern, interoperable systems are crucial to ensure secure data flow between student information systems, learning management tools, and assessment platforms.
The snapshot also highlights opportunities for Iowa to expand outcomes-based approaches to procurement and implementation. By tying investments in technology to measurable student results, the state can strengthen accountability and ensure dollars are spent on tools that truly advance learning.
Ultimately, Iowa’s path forward requires continued focus on interoperability, clear governance, and strong partnerships among state agencies, districts, and providers. With coordinated efforts, Iowa can build a data ecosystem that empowers educators, informs families, and supports every student’s success.¹
¹ Data Quality Campaign. (2025, February 26). Iowa child care supply and demand. Data Quality Campaign. https:// dataqualitycampaign.org/resource/iowa-child-care-supply-and-demand/
This Story from the Field is a supplement to the 2025 Project Unicorn State of the Sector Report which analyzes K-12 school system capabilities and infrastructure for leveraging education data. Read the full report.
