NMI SLDS Program’s strong commitment to effective data governance

Through its recent participation in the 2024 Statewide Longitudinal Data System Policies and Process workshop, organized by the SLDS State Support Team, the CNMI SLDS Program demonstrated a strong commitment to effective data governance.

Seventeen of the nation’s state SLDS programs came together for this event, which took place in Reston, Virginia on July 6-7. These programs are committed to improving and honing their organization’s data management strategies through procedures and policies.

The members of the CNMI P20W Data Governance Committee are Ryan Camacho, senior financial analyst, Department of Finance; Leo Master Jr., data specialist, Northern Marianas Technical Institute; Vilma Reyes, director of institutional effectiveness, Northern Marianas College, and Geri DelaCruz, SLDS data governance manager of the Public School System made up the CNMI representation.

The CNMI P20W Data Governance Program is a newly formed cross agency partnership for effective data governance to effectuate data-driven decision making, accountability and continuous improvement across the CNMI’s educational and workforce development landscape. Currently, there are six agencies that have committed to the CNMI P20W partnership: Department of Commerce, Department of Finance, Department of Labor, Northern Marianas College, Northern Marianas Technical Institute, and CNMI Public School System.

The 2024 SLDS Policies & Processes workshop was designed to equip participants with advanced knowledge and practical tools necessary for strengthening data governance frameworks with a focus on policies and processes. With the evolving landscape of data management, the need for comprehensive policies and processes that ensure data quality, security and compliance has never been more critical. This convening provided an opportunity for participants to understand the purpose of data policies and processes and learned techniques on crafting high quality policies for implementation. More importantly, the workshop provided an invaluable platform for participants to engage with other state programs, exchange ideas and discuss solutions to common challenges.

As the team returned to the CNMI, having a renewed sense of purpose and clearer vision, they presented key topics and insights to the CNMI P20W Data Governance Committee as a whole. They shared the knowledge and strategies acquired during this workshop that play a crucial role in guiding the committee to creating high quality data policies, paving the way for a successful data management.

Department of Finance’s Ryan Camacho, a member of the CNMI P20W Data Governance Committee, said: “Witnessing the collaborative efforts among state agencies during the SLDS workshop was truly inspiring. Together, through the P20W program, we can drive meaningful change leveraging quantitative data and stakeholder experience to enhance educational, social, and financial outcomes for the CNMI.”

For more information about CNMI’s participation in the 2024 SLDS Policies and Processes workshop, contact: slds@cnmipss.org

About CNMI SLDS

The CNMI PSS is dedicated to providing quality education and support services to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota students. With a focus on innovation and excellence, CNMI PSS strives to empower students for success in a rapidly evolving world.

The CNMI SLDS Program is a state office that collects and integrates the CNMI’s education and workforce data that bridges the gap between information and action so that policymakers, practitioners, and the public can make the best decisions possible.

The CNMI’s SLDS program consists of Dr. Annette Pladevega Sablan (project director), Shawna Indalecio (project specialist), Jeaniffer Cubangbang (SLDS Technical manager), Geralyn DelaCruz (Data Governance manager), and Ferdinand Ngirmekur (Data Privacy specialist).

The SLDS is a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Education, state education agency, and other stakeholders, including educators, researchers, and policymakers. The SLDS website is just one of the many tools that the system provides to help education professionals make informed decisions and improve educational outcomes.

To learn more about the Statewide Longitudinal Data System and its new website, visit https://slds.cnmipss.org. (PR)