Data Partnership Illuminates State’s Return on Investment

Associate Director Erin Joyce, seated, and Sean Franco, quantitative research analyst, at the Ohio Education Research Center examine the Ohio High School Outcomes report, which was developed using data from the Ohio Longitudinal Data Archive.
Published Date October 09, 2026
News Type College News
Associate Director Erin Joyce, seated, and Sean Franco, quantitative research analyst, at the Ohio Education Research Center examine the Ohio High School Outcomes report, which was developed using data from the Ohio Longitudinal Data Archive.

Ohio State collaborates with the State of Ohio to link education, workforce, housing, human services and disability services data so state leaders can target investments to deliver the greatest value to citizens. 

Bringing these data together, the Ohio Longitudinal Data Archive, or OLDA, provides evidence that helps policymakers, practitioners and Ohioans better understand the outcomes and impacts of public programs, improve cross-system coordination, and inform investments that strengthen communities across the state.  

OLDA is governed by the OLDA Partnership, which includes The Ohio State University and the State of Ohio agencies that contribute data. Launched as a secure, state-governed resource in 2012, it supports approved, private, secure access to deidentified state administrative records for research, evaluation and policy analysis on outcomes like employment, earnings, credential value and program return on investment. OLDA is now hosted on the State of Ohio’s Innovate Ohio Platform. 

The Ohio State University’s Ohio Education Research Center (OERC) in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR) operate OLDA under agency-approved governance through five agency partners: Ohio’s Departments of Job and Family Services, Education and Workforce, and Higher Education as well as the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. 

“Today, OLDA underpins more than 40 active projects and supports many of Ohio’s most important education and workforce analyses,” said Glenn College Professor Josh Hawley, director of OERC.  

OLDA, through its long-standing partnership with The Ohio State University, provides the trusted, longitudinal data needed to understand whether state investments in education, workforce training and credentialing are achieving the hoped-for results. 

Professor Josh Hawley
Director, Ohio Education Research Center

One of the most recent projects using OLDA data, the Ohio High School Outcomes Report for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, provides the first statewide report that includes postsecondary enrollment, graduation, employment and earnings up to six years post-graduation.  

“The report data supports student-centered decisions, adds to local planning and helps identify opportunities to improve student success,” said Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. 

Tracking Education, Career Outcomes for Ohio High School Graduates

The Ohio Education Research Center at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs used the Ohio Longitudinal Data Archive while working with the State of Ohio to develop new interactive resources connecting education and workforce data to help Ohio communities better understand postsecondary and career pathways for high school graduates.

Dackin said the outcomes reports can help policymakers both reflect on the educational pathways that are strongly linked to the highest earnings in the earlier stages of a graduate’s career and better understand how students transition from high school into higher education and the workforce, ensuring they are well-prepared for the opportunities that await them beyond graduation. 

“At the outset of this project, the Ohio Longitudinal Data Archive, accessible through the InnovateOhio Platform, was the most effective resource for linking diverse data sets,” Dackin said.  

Leveraging Ohio State’s extensive experience in collaborating with various state agencies and navigating the complexities of state administrative data proved invaluable. 

Stephen D. Dackin
Director, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

“Throughout the process, OLDA and OERC staff contributed significantly as thought partners,” Dackin added, “helping us develop meaningful calculations, select optimal display options, and efficiently manage the logistical challenges that preceded the launch.” 

OLDA’s capabilities are particularly pertinent considering the upcoming change in Ohio’s leadership following November elections. 

“For the next gubernatorial administration and the General Assembly, OLDA can help the incoming administration quickly move from questions to actionable evidence,” said Hawley. “OLDA is designed to serve state policymakers and agency leaders seeking evidence to guide program and policy decisions.” 

Help for Homeowners in Crisis

John Glenn College of Public Affairs Acting Dean Stephanie Moulton, doctoral candidate Brandon Frye and colleagues used Ohio Housing Finance Agency data from the Ohio Longitudinal Data Archive to make policy recommendations after analyzing pandemic-era relief housing assistance programs.

For example, later this fall, Ohio lawmakers will continue consideration of Senate Bill 328, which establishes the Education and Workforce Return on Investment Initiative to make education and workforce data more useful and accessible. OLDA already performs much of this work, aligning with the bill’s requirements for cross-agency data linkage, statewide longitudinal research capacity, public dashboards and reporting tools, and policy-relevant, actionable analysis for policymakers, educators and workforce leaders. 

OLDA answers cross-agency questions that matter for the state’s policy agenda. Some examples, with public dashboards that have been created by OERC: 

  • OLDA can help the administration understand what happens after Ohioans leave high school, college, training programs, workforce services, housing supports and disability services. The Workforce Success Measures dashboard helps Ohioans navigate their career journey. 
  • For education and workforce policy, OLDA can answer practical questions about outcomes and return on investment including programs for Ohio high school and postsecondary graduates, public workforce development and workforce supply and demand in priority sectors. The Ohio Higher Education Outcomes dashboard displays the flow of graduates from the state’s public colleges and universities to its workforce. 
  • For economic development, OLDA can help identify talent gaps, workforce supply, projected job openings and regional labor market needs to align education and training investments with employer demand. Examples include the Workforce Supply Tool and Employment Projections Tool. 
  • For human services and housing policy, OLDA can examine connections between program participation, employment, earnings, housing stability and long-term wellbeing. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s data in OLDA helps develop innovative housing solutions for Ohioans and supports research by Acting Dean Stephanie Moulton.