Lessons from New Mexico’s Data Integration Journey

Our April 2026 webinar featured New Mexico’s implementation experience with Generate and centered on what states can learn about strengthening IDEA data governance, reporting processes, and cross-team collaboration during periods of significant change.

Johnathon Garcia, New Mexico’s EDFacts Coordinator and CIID Technical Assistance experts, Julia Redmon and Audrey Rudick discussed how states can move forward with reporting modernization efforts even while navigating staffing transitions, changing systems, and competing priorities.

One of the clearest themes from the discussion was that successful implementation is not solely about technology. Strong IDEA data governance and sustainable reporting practices depend on leadership alignment, communication across teams, clearly defined processes, and ongoing technical support. 

When New Mexico began this work, the state was transitioning away from legacy reporting systems while also implementing a new data collection system. Existing processes relied heavily on manual workflows and institutional knowledge held by a small number of staff. At the same time, IDEA EDFacts reporting deadlines remained unchanged.

The experience highlighted several practices that may support other states working to improve IDEA data governance and reporting processes:

Leadership Alignment Creates Momentum

New Mexico’s experience reinforced how important leadership support is during implementation and modernization efforts. Clear priorities and visible leadership support helped create the space needed for staff to focus on the work despite competing demands.

Collaboration Strengthens Reporting Processes

The webinar also emphasized the importance of collaboration between technical teams, data teams, and program staff. Rather than relying on isolated workflows, the team worked together in real time to troubleshoot issues and make decisions quickly. That coordination improved communication, reduced delays, and strengthened shared ownership of the reporting process.

Governance Evolves Through Practice

Another key lesson involved the role of data governance. Early in the work, many processes and decisions were informal or dependent on individual staff knowledge. Over time, the state placed greater emphasis on documentation, clearer ownership of data elements, repeatable workflows, and upstream data quality review.

Flexible Technical Assistance Supports Progress

CIID’s technical assistance approach focused on helping the state address immediate priorities while gradually building structure and sustainability over time. Support included lightweight project planning, weekly progress tracking, troubleshooting assistance, and flexible technical guidance tailored to the state’s needs.

As Julia Redmon explained:

“Our role was really less about directing the work and more about supporting the progress and continuing to take a step forward.”

This webinar reinforced an important message for states working to modernize IDEA reporting systems: _Progress does not require perfect conditions. Sustainable improvements often begin by strengthening collaboration, documenting processes, clarifying roles, and building structures that support long-term data quality and reporting consistency. _

As Johnathon Garcia reflected during the session:

“If you wait for perfect data, you’ll never get started.”