Determining whether a state's young people are on track for a life with opportunity is a critical -- but diffcult -- task for governors and state leaders. States can be both awash in data and unable to easily access and use that data to inform policy. State longitudinal data systems that meaningfully connect workforce, higher education, K-12, and early childhood outcome data are foundational to strong decision-making by state leaders. State leaders should prioritize legislation that follows the recommendations in this report for state longitudinal data systems. The recommendations are adapted from "Time to Act: Making Data Work for Students" (see ED568716) and are the foundation of the George W. Bush Institute's rating of the State Longitudinal Data Systems.