In 2005, the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) identified the "10 Essential Elements of a Statewide Longitudinal Data System" to provide a roadmap for state policymakers as they built statewide longitudinal data systems designed to collect, store, & use longitudinal data to improve student achievement & outcomes. In 2007, the federal America COMPETES Act, codified 12 "Required Elements of a P-16 Education Data System." This paper demonstrates the significant alignment between the DQC's 10 Essential Elements & the 12 COMPETES Elements. The one substantive difference is that all of the DQC's 10 Essential Elements only apply to K-12 education & some of the COMPETES Elements apply to K-12 & postsecondary education or to only postsecondary education.