Education & Workforce Data Governing Board

People meeting with laptops

Welcome to the Education & Workforce Data Governing Board

The principal purpose of the Education and Workforce Data Governing Board is to create transparency and shared governance between relevant agencies to utilize education and workforce data while ensuring the data is used only for appropriate purposes and in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C.1232g.

Featured Information

House Bill 949

Montana Code Annoted (2023) Title 20, Chapter 7, Part 1

Topics

Upcoming:

  • April 6th, 2026
    1:30 P.M.
    State Capitol Room 455

    To participate in the meeting via Zoom or to provide written public comments, email doacomms@mt.gov.

Past

  • Director of the Department of Administration or designee (Presiding Officer):
    • Director Misty Ann Giles
  • Superintendent of Public Instruction or Designee:
    • Superintendent Susan Hedalen
  • Commissioner of Higher Education or Designee:
    • Commissioner Clayton Christian
    • Designee: Tyler Trevor
  • Commissioner of Labor and Industry or Designee:
    • Commissioner Sarah Swanson
  • Presiding Officer of the Board of Public Education or Designee:
    • Chair, Tim Tharp

  • State Chief Information Officer or Designee:
    • Kevin Gilbertson
  • Legislative Fiscal Analyst or Designee:
    • Amy Carlson, Director
    • Designee: Nick VanBrown
  • Legislative Auditor or Designee:
    • Angus Maciver, Director
  • Director of Legislative Services or Designee:
    • Jerry Howe, Executive Director
    • Designee: Laura Sankey Keip

  • Must meet at least quarterly; special meetings are allowed.
  • The board may form working groups.
  • All meetings must be open to the public and recorded to be publicly available.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for linking and sharing education and workforce data among contributing agencies.
  • Ensuring data shared data is secured and used only for appropriate purposes. Develop an education and workforce research agenda and data plan.
  • Improve alignment across existing programs and systems.
  • Support student success in K-12 education, higher education, and the workforce.
  • Ensure we increase the efficiency and effectiveness of state education, training, workforce, and financial aid programs.
  • Equip local and state policymakers with information, including creating, publishing, and making publicly available a data inventory and dictionary of data elements to ensure the integrity and quality of the data collected and reported.
  • Facilitate using education and workforce data to inform decision-making to maximize operational efficiency by:
    • Providing technical and data analysis support to contributing agencies and other state users.
    • Developing and implementing policies and procedures regarding data and research requests.
    • Developing and making available a model data-sharing agreement.
    • Ensure compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.