Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS)

What Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS) does

NSWERS is a state-chartered interlocal public agency established under Nebraska's Interlocal Cooperation Act and given legislative direction through LB 1160 (signed August 10, 2020). It operates as Nebraska's only integrated P-20W (preschool through workforce) longitudinal data system, linking PK-12 education records from all 244 Nebraska public school districts, postsecondary data from the University of Nebraska System (5 institutions), the Nebraska State College System (3 institutions), and all six community colleges, with workforce wage records from the Nebraska Department of Labor. The core purpose is to enable evidence-based tracking of student pathways from early education through postsecondary completion and into employment, addressing fragmented data systems that historically prevented cross-institutional outcome analysis.

The organization's technology stack consists of two web-based platforms: insights+, a secure partner-facing system with single sign-on integration across all partner institutions, an Analyzer tool for statistical analyses, a custom populations builder, and a Digital Certification Application for data validation; and insights, a public-facing platform launched January 2025 that provides interactive visualizations across eight key outcomes (four education: High School Graduation, College Going, Postsecondary Persistence, Postsecondary Graduation; and four workforce: Time to Employment, Employment Gap, Industry Placement, Employment Location). Data infrastructure is managed by University of Nebraska ITS and meets NIST 800-171, FedRAMP High, and ITAR compliance requirements. Analysis is organized through a proprietary Six Stages of Analysis framework (Explore, Describe, Explain, Predict, Forecast, Simulate). The first official data collection (June 2022) included a 10-year historical student data tranche with employment records matched back to 2009.

NSWERS is funded through interlocal partner contributions, state appropriations under LB 1160, and competitive grants. As a public agency, it does not charge partners for data access, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. Its customer base is effectively captive: all Nebraska public education and workforce agencies are mandatory statutory participants. Distribution is direct via the two platforms, supplemented by the NSWERS Academy professional learning program, formal data request and evaluation request processes, quarterly newsletter, regional community engagement workshops, and earned media coverage. The organization employed approximately 8 staff as of the most recent firmographic data, with a separate source noting up to 13 total staff including post-doctoral researchers and project management.

Name

Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS)

Legal name

Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System

Website

https://nswers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NSWERS is a Nebraska-mandated public interlocal agency operating the state's only integrated P-20W longitudinal data system linking PK-12, postsecondary, and workforce data across all public institutions, serving policymakers, educators, and researchers through secure and public data platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Workforce Data Analytics

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial/Regional Education Departments (EDADAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Education Department Administration (BPAIABAJ), Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

Keywords

• Longitudinal data systems
• Education workforce analytics
• State data infrastructure
• Outcomes measurement
• P-20W research

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partner Organization Contributions: NSWERS receives financial support from its partner organizations (Nebraska Department of Education, University of Nebraska System, Nebraska State College System, six community colleges) through interlocal agreement contributions.
2. State Appropriations: State funding through legislative appropriations tied to demonstrated value and use, as established under LB 1160 (2020).
3. Competitive Grants: Grant funding from competitive sources to support specific programs and capacity building initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

NSWERS is Nebraska's official statewide longitudinal education and workforce data system, integrating PK-12, postsecondary, and workforce records into a single platform. It delivers secure analytical access to partner institutions via insights+ and public access to all Nebraskans via insights, supported by research products, evaluation services, and the NSWERS Academy training program organized around eight tracked outcomes and a six-stage analytical framework.

Product overview

NSWERS is a state longitudinal data system that integrates education and workforce data across Nebraska's PK-12, postsecondary, and workforce systems. The core product portfolio consists of insights+ (a secure platform for partner access to longitudinal data and the Analyzer statistical tool), insights (a public-facing platform for all Nebraskans), NSWERS Academy (professional development training), and Data Request/Evaluation Services. These are supported by research products including Data Briefs, Special Reports, and Interactive Stories, all organized around eight NSWERS Outcomes—four Education (High School Graduation, College Going, Postsecondary Persistence, Postsecondary Graduation) and four Workforce (Time to Employment, Employment Gap, Industry Placement, Employment Location)—analyzed through the six-stage NSWERS Stages of Analysis framework (Explore, Describe, Explain, Predict, Forecast, Simulate).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• insights+: Secure web platform for NSWERS partners to access cutting-edge data and research products across NSWERS Six Stages of Analysis.
• insights
• NSWERS Academy
• NSWERS Stages of Analysis™

Products and services

• insights+ Secure web-based platform providing NSWERS partners secure access to longitudinal education and workforce data, analytical tools, and research products across all eight NSWERS outcomes and six stages of analysis.
• insights Public-facing web platform enabling all Nebraskans to access and explore data and research products across the eight NSWERS outcomes through interactive charts, graphs, maps, and data visualizations.
• Analyzer Tool Statistical analysis tool within the insights+ platform that enables partner users to perform advanced analyses using NSWERS longitudinal education and workforce data.
• NSWERS Academy Professional learning series designed to equip decision makers in Nebraska's education and workforce sectors with skills to effectively utilize NSWERS data and the insights+ platform.
• Evaluation Services Customized program evaluations for education and workforce interventions, conducted by NSWERS researchers using longitudinal data and advanced analytical methods, accessed via a formal Evaluation Request Application.
• Data Request Services Formal multi-step process for researchers to request access to non-public NSWERS data through Research Proposal Applications reviewed quarterly by the Executive Director and Management Committee.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 percentage point increase in college enrollment for NMRP participants
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, supporting and core.

• Strategic Data Project (SDP), Harvard UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Collaboration with SDP, an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. Launched the Nebraska Strategic Data Leadership Network (NSDLN), a two-year fellowship program bringing together 27 fellows from Nebraska's public and tribal postsecondary institutions. Provides training, technical support, and strategic data project guidance.
• Little Priest Tribal CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2024Tribal college represented in the inaugural NSDLN fellowship cohort. Part of expanded effort to include Nebraska's tribal postsecondary institutions in the strategic data leadership network.
• National Student ClearinghousesupportingOthers · 30 June 2022External organization sharing relevant education data to supplement NSWERS data collection. Contributes to enhanced data coverage across postsecondary institutions.
• University of Nebraska Information Technology Services (ITS)coreTechnology or Integration · 20 January 2021Technical partner managing NSWERS data infrastructure. Ensures appropriate security controls including data encryption in transit, regular security scans, vulnerability probing, and government-grade cloud storage solutions meeting NIST 800-171, FedRAMP High, and ITAR requirements.
• Nebraska Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2020Primary partner providing PK-12 education data for 244 Nebraska public school districts. Contributes statewide assessment data, enrollment records, attendance, student course records, and staff information. Governed by interlocal agreement as a NSWERS partner.
• University of Nebraska SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2020Partner providing four-year postsecondary education data. Includes University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Contributes transcript, course, academic awards, and term data.
• Nebraska State College SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2020Partner providing state college system data. Includes Chadron State College, Peru State College, and Wayne State College. Contributes postsecondary enrollment and completion data.
• Nebraska Community CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2020Six community colleges as primary partners: Central Community College, Metropolitan Community College, Mid-Plains Community College, Northeast Community College, Southeast Community College, and Western Nebraska Community College. Contribute two-year postsecondary data including transcripts, courses, and academic awards.
• Nebraska Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2020Affiliate entity required by state statute to contribute workforce data. Provides the critical connection from education into employment through wage records and student matching data. Governed by data exchange agreement under LB 1160 mandate.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• National Student Clearinghouse: National nonprofit that serves as a central repository and verifier of student enrollment, degree, and postsecondary outcomes data across U.S. institutions. NSWERS is already a partner consuming its data; functionally comparable as a cross-institutional education data clearinghouse providing longitudinal tracking services.
• Strategic Data Project, Harvard Center for Education Policy Research: Harvard CEPR initiative that partners with state agencies and postsecondary systems to build data capacity, run fellowship programs, and produce policy-relevant analyses. Directly comparable to NSWERS as a data leadership builder, and NSWERS is an active partner via the NSDLN fellowship.
• Ohio Education Research Center: Ohio's cross-agency longitudinal education data system linking K-12, higher education, and workforce records for research and evaluation. Functions as a state-level P-20W data system with a comparable mandate to NSWERS, serving education agencies and the public with outcome analytics.
• Washington State Education Research & Data Center (ERDC): Washington state's longitudinal P-20W data system integrating K-12, postsecondary, and workforce data for policy analysis and research. Operates the same model as NSWERS at larger scale in another state, providing outcome metrics on graduation, college going, and employment outcomes.
• Florida PK-20 Education Information Portal: Florida's integrated PK-20 education data system providing longitudinal student tracking, outcome measurement, and policy support. A larger-scale comparable state longitudinal data system with similar functions to NSWERS in tracking education and workforce outcomes.

Others

• State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO): National nonprofit serving statewide higher education coordinating bodies and agencies with data, policy analysis, and benchmarking on postsecondary outcomes. Adjacent ecosystem participant providing similar state-level education data and analytics support as NSWERS, though operating nationally rather than at the state longitudinal level.
• Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Program - REL Central: U.S. Department of Education-funded network of regional research organizations conducting applied research and providing technical assistance to state education agencies. Comparable in producing research using integrated education data for state stakeholders, with REL Central covering Nebraska and the surrounding region.

Emerging players

• Results for America (formerly Data Quality Campaign): National nonprofit focused on advancing the use of data and evidence in education and workforce policy at the state and federal level. Operates in the adjacent space of building state capacity for education data use and policy impact evaluation, sharing thematic overlap with NSWERS's mission.
• Education Analytics, Inc. Wisconsin-based nonprofit that partners with state agencies to apply advanced analytics and research methods to education data systems, producing policy and practice insights. Comparable in its use of integrated education data to produce actionable findings, though operates through contracted partnerships rather than statutory mandate.

Regional players

• WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education): Regional compact serving western U.S. states on postsecondary education issues including data exchange, policy research, and program evaluation. Comparable in cross-state education data and workforce alignment work, though focuses on interstate cooperation rather than a single-state longitudinal data system like NSWERS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NSWERS4NE
• Facebookfacebook.com/nswers4ne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nswers

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS)