Publicly reporting timely, actionable, and comprehensible education data is one of the most powerful ways states can promote transparency, strengthen accountability, and ensure that everyone with a stake in education--parents, educators, policymakers, and members of the public and press--has access to the information they need to make good decisions. Data can be made available in a variety of ways, including through federally mandated school report cards, through public-facing data portals, or as raw data sets. Regardless of their format, publicly reported data never include personally identifiable information (i.e., information that could be used to identify an individual). "Empowering Parents and Communities Through Quality Public Reporting: Federal Policy Guide" is part of the Data Quality Campaign's series on public reporting of education data.