The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Enterprise Data Office is pleased to share that the N.C. Longitudinal Data System’s Data Service will open and begin receiving requests for custom, cross-sector datasets on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.
This groundbreaking data exchange and research partnership will support policymakers, practitioners and researchers in their work to better understand and solve cross-cutting challenges across our state’s social, education and workforce sectors.
Overview
NCLDS works with data partners and other stakeholders to connect early childhood, K-12 education, postsecondary and employment data to help evaluate the longer-term impacts and successes of various state programs — all while protecting the privacy and security of personal information.
Data requestors must complete a rigorous application process, and the request for data is reviewed by representatives from each data provider impacted by the data request. Data shared with approved external data requestors must be in aggregated or de-identified format.
NCLDS connects data from six contributing systems and agencies and securely delivers those data to partners, other state entities, researchers and practitioners for research, evaluation, decision-making and reporting purposes. Data contributors, from birth to adulthood, include:
- N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
- N.C. Department of Public Instruction
- N.C. Community College System
- University of North Carolina System
- North Carolina’s Independent Colleges and Universities
- N.C. Department of Commerce
The development and continued growth of NCLDS is guided by a four-phase strategic plan and overseen by a multi-agency governance structure that incorporates all applicable state and federal laws that safeguard the privacy of an individual’s personal information.
Testimonials & Endorsement from Pilot Testers
"The privilege of working with NCLDS and its data contributors has revealed the incredible potential of this communal resource, along with its ability to inform key policy questions from early childhood to the workforce." — Dr. Matt Springer, Basis Policy Research
“The NCLDS team has been key in allowing us to do rigorous research on the long-term impacts of North Carolina's Career and College Promise program. Having a longitudinal data system in place is especially critical for answering important questions that cut across sectors." — Dr. Julie Edmunds, Director, Early College Research Center, UNC Greensboro
Submitting Requests
To learn how to submit a request for consideration by NCLDS’s data contributors, please visit NCLDS’s Data Request Form webpage.
Questions?
For more information, send an email to ncldshelp@nc.gov.