NC H964

Creates the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System (NCLDS) administered within the Department of Public Instruction to collect, manage, and analyze individual-level student and workforce data from K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and state agencies.

Establishes an 18-member governing board consisting of representatives from state agencies, higher education systems, community colleges, independent colleges and universities, and appointees from the General Assembly and Governor to oversee system implementation, compliance with FERPA privacy requirements, and data security safeguards.

Requires local school administrative units, charter schools, community colleges, and UNC constituent institutions to share student and workforce data with the system according to a Board-established schedule; private colleges, universities, and nonpublic schools may voluntarily participate.

Limits linkage of student data with workforce data to no longer than five years from the student's completion of secondary education or latest higher education attendance; restricts direct data access to authorized system staff and requires only de-identified aggregate data be used in reports and public releases.

Provides liability protections for private colleges, universities, nonpublic schools, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc., for breaches of confidentiality caused by actions or omissions of state agencies, local school units, community colleges, or UNC institutions receiving their student data.