Data Governance is the overall management of the availability, usability, integrity, quality, and security of data. Data governance is both an organizational process and a structure.

Data breaches are not the concern of just information technology staff; they are the concern of everyone who has access to and handles Part C/Part B 619 data. A data breach may take numerous forms, from inadvertent disclosure of personally identifiable information (PII) to intentional hacking.

Part C and Part B 619 programs rely on data to inform decisions on program improvement, track child and family progress, and report performance to federal, state, and local policymakers and other stakeholders. Using inaccurate or poor quality data to report on program performance or make decisions will result in erroneous conclusions.

Part C and Part B 619 programs collect and maintain large amounts of data, including personally identifiable information (PII), on the children and families they serve. To protect and safeguard Part C and Part B 619 PII and other important data, programs should develop and implement policies that address how these data are secured and who may access the data.

State Part C and Part B 619 programs will encounter the need for changes in their data system(s). Many changes to an existing data system can affect work conducted at the state, local/district, and/or provider levels.

An important part of each state’s Part C and Part B 619 accountability system is the regular reporting of data related to the implementation of IDEA. Part C and Part B 619 state staff or representatives analyze and publicly report data for a variety of reasons.

Given the continuing increase in the use of electronic communications (e.g., texting, email, instant messaging, video chatting, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), it is not surprising that families and Part C and Part B 619 providers use these technologies to communicate and share program information.

State agencies for Part C and Part B 619 regularly receive requests for data from internal and external parties. While protection of personally identifiable information (PII) is paramount, appropriately sharing data can lead to innovations in research, policies, and practices – innovations that benefit children, families, and practitioners/teachers.

It is critical that Part C and Part B 619 governance policies address record retention and data destruction. In developing their own policies and procedures, it is essential to review relevant federal and state agency regulations regarding data retention and destruction.