In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the immediate demand for data about displaced students overwhelmed many school districts that had gained or lost students because of the disasters. The scale of these crises and their effects on school operations and management were in many ways unprecedented. This guide reflects "lessons learned" by the education community and provides recommendations for collecting and maintaining data about students who may move in or out of an educational organization during and following a crisis. The document focuses on data management activities intended to minimize the impact of a crisis and help educational organizations quickly preserve or restore services to students following a crisis. While this guide's primary audience is Student Information Systems (SIS) data managers, many of the recommendations will also be useful to other staff members responsible for collecting, maintaining, and safeguarding data in education organizations. Chapter 1 defines the terms "crisis" and "displaced student," and raises key issues that were identified during past crises. Chapter 2 recommends planning activities that should occur prior to a crisis, including the formation of a disaster recovery team, the assessment of existing data systems, the implementation of placeholders for data about displaced students, the maintenance of related data elements, a review of the frequency and timing of data collections, and consideration of associated data policies and procedures. Chapter 3 provides guidance regarding the collection and dissemination of data about displaced students during a crisis, including the crisis declaration and subsequent data collection and exchange efforts. Chapter 4 describes effective data reporting and evaluation following a crisis, including ongoing data sharing, state and federal reporting, auditing expectations, suspension or termination of temporary systems, and process evaluations. Chapter 5 identifies several challenges specifically related to managing data about displaced students, including the implications of statewide student information systems, the need for unique statewide student identifiers, the timing of the crisis, and the implementation of displacement status records. Chapter 6 presents the document's recommendations and suggested timeline in the form of a checklist of action items. Appendices include: (1) Forum and Other NCES Resources; (2) Understanding Relevant Federal Laws; (3) Glossary; and (4) Additional Resources. (Contains 3 figures, 1 table, and 1 footnote.)