Every day, state governments make decisions that affect the lives of their citizens. Legislators and governors determine which policies to enact and what public problems to address. State agencies establish how programs should be run and where budget dollars are best spent, as well as who qualifies for government assistance.

To effectively serve the public, state officials at every level of government are tasked with ensuring that these daily decisions are prudent and well-informed. Consequently, states are increasingly turning to administrative data, or information—such as vital records, college enrollment data, and Medicaid utilization statistics, collected and maintained primarily for the routine management of programs and services—to make strategic data-informed decisions. This information can include any data that are necessary to implement and oversee a program, such as demographics, outcomes, and enrollment details.

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