Sacramento State is celebrating a major step forward for educational collaboration in the Capital Region as the Sacramento K-16 Collaborative announces the expansion of its Regional Data Partnership, tripling in size and now reaching more than 220,000 students across 15 institutions. 

Launched in October 2024 with five founding partners, including Sacramento State, the Regional Data Partnership was created to strengthen college and career pathways by securely connecting educational data across systems. This groundbreaking effort allows institutions to better understand how students move through their educational journeys, identify barriers earlier, and deliver aligned supports that set learners up for long-term success. 

The list of partner institutions includes:

• Sierra College
• Yolo County Office of Education
• Center Joint Unified School District
• Folsom Cordova Unified School District
• Natomas Unified School District
• Sacramento City Unified School District
• San Juan Unified School District
• Twin Rivers Unified School District
• Winters Joint Unified School District
• Woodland Joint Unified School District
• Elk Grove Unified School District
• Sacramento County Office of Education
• Los Rios Community College District 
• UC Davis

With the addition of ten new K–12 and higher education partners, the initiative now represents one of California’s largest and most comprehensive education data-sharing agreements. Its rapid growth demonstrates just how essential collaboration has become to improving academic outcomes and strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline. As Sacramento State President Luke Wood emphasized, “When we work together toward our common goals, we become even better positioned to deliver on the promises we’ve made to the students in our region.” 

Sacramento State’s Role in Advancing Regional Alignment

As a university-wide effort, Sacramento State has been a core supporter of the Sacramento K-16 Collaborative since its launch, serving as a connector between regional partners and the campus community. Through its expertise in educational innovation, workforce alignment, and cross-sector engagement, the university helps partners translate shared data into actionable strategies that strengthen college and career pathways. 

The expansion of the Regional Data Partnership further underscores how Sacramento State’s mission aligns directly with that of the Collaborative: ensuring every student, from transitional kindergarten through higher education, has equitable access to high-demand fields such as healthcare and engineering. 

By forging strong partnerships and supporting data-driven decision-making, Sacramento State contributes to a regional ecosystem where educational institutions, communities, and employers work together to build a resilient and inclusive workforce. 

“Expanding the Regional Data Partnership allows us to understand our students’ journeys more clearly than ever before,” says Dr. Tina Torres, Director of Sacramento State’s K-16 Project. “With this level of insight, we can design pathways that truly meet their needs and ensure they have every opportunity to thrive —academically, professionally, and personally.”

A Statewide Model for Student Success

The work of the Sacramento K-16 Collaborative has gained statewide recognition. California’s Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program helped seed the initiative, and the model has since been highlighted in the Master Plan for Career Education 2025 as a best-practice approach for improving regional coordination. 

By securely sharing data, partner institutions can:

• Identify student challenges earlier and intervene with wraparound supports
• Expand access to free and early college coursework
• Align educational programs with high-demand, high-wage regional industries
• Deliver more equitable pathways to college and career success 

As Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Garth Lewis notes, “By aligning our educational systems, we can remove barriers, anticipate needs, and ensure that children and youth in—” (excerpt in source document). 

Sacramento State remains committed to advancing this shared vision by supporting the Collaborative’s implementation, partner engagement, and continuous improvement efforts.