Research Data Request Process

The California Department of Education (CDE) collects and reports information about California students at the school, district, county, and state levels. This information can be accessed through the Data Reports by Topic webpage.

This portal provides guidance for qualified researchers to make requests for data that is not publicly available. CDE will review each request and determine whether it is aligned with our research priorities and whether it satisfies other CDE requirements.

The release of California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) data, assessment data and other student records is limited to CDE’s authorized representatives. Authorized representatives may include a) qualified researchers at universities and non-profit institutions and b) other governmental agencies who are conducting research on behalf of the CDE to improve instruction, develop, validate or administer predictive tests or to administer student aid programs or who are conducting audits and evaluations of state or federal education programs. With CDE approval, these data may be released at the student-level through data-sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) or inter-agency agreements (IAAs) and in compliance with all state and federal data privacy and security laws.

In order to formally submit a research data request, make sure to follow these concept paper guidelines: Research/Evaluation Concept Paper Guidelines web page. Information about the CDE’s Research Priorities can be found here: 2022-24 Research Priorities web page.

Individuals or institutions with data-related inquiries or requests that cannot be fulfilled using publicly available data resources and who meet the specified criteria to be considered an “authorized representative” may submit a data request through the CDE portal. Follow this link to formally submit a research data request: Data Request Intake Form Survey.

The CDE shall impose the following fees to fulfill approved requests: