OMB has issued guidance to encourage the use of administrative data for statistical purposes, and for addressing related legal, policy, and operational issues.
The guidance, M-14-06, builds on three previously issued OMB memoranda: designed to increase the value of existing data:
-Sharing Data While Protecting Privacy (M-11-02),
-Open Data Policy-Managing Information as an Asset (M-13-13)
-Next Steps in the Evidence and Innovation Agenda (M-13-17)
This latest memo calls for departmental and agency leadership to foster greater collaboration between program and statistical offices; develop strong data stewardship policies and practices around the statistical use of administrative data; require the documentation of quality control measures and key attributes of important administrative datasets; and, require the designation of responsibilities and practices through the use of agreements amongst these offices.