There is a Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center. The Center is an independent unit within State government. The organizational placement and location of the Center shall be determined by the Governing Board. The head of the Center is the Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Governing Board. The Center may employ the additional staff necessary to carry out the Center’s functions as provided in the State budget. The Center shall be considered an authorized representative of the State Department of Education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission under applicable federal and State statutes for purposes of accessing and compiling student record data for research purposes. The Center shall perform the following functions and duties: Serve as a central repository of student data and workforce data in the Maryland Longitudinal Data System, including data sets provided by: The State Department of Education; Local education agencies; The Maryland Higher Education Commission; Institutions of higher education; The Maryland Department of Labor; The Department of Juvenile Services; and The Social Services Administration within the Department of Human Services; Oversee and maintain the warehouse of the Maryland Longitudinal Data System data sets; Ensure routine and ongoing compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other relevant privacy laws and policies, including: The required use of de–identified data in data research and reporting; The required disposition of information that is no longer needed; Providing data security, including the capacity for audit trails; Providing for performance of regular audits for compliance with data privacy and security standards; and Implementing guidelines and policies that prevent the reporting of other potentially identifying data; Conduct research using timely and accurate student data and workforce data to improve the State’s education system and guide decision making by State and local governments, educational agencies, institutions, teachers, and other education professionals; Conduct research relating to: The impact of State and federal education programs; The performance of educator preparation programs; Best practices regarding classroom instruction, education programs and curriculum, and segment alignment; and The impact child welfare programs have on the educational and economic outcomes of students; At the direction of the Accountability and Implementation Board established in Title 5, Subtitle 4 of this article provide: A researcher designated by the Board access to the data in the Maryland Longitudinal Data System in accordance with the procedures for staff authorization and data access established by the Maryland Longitudinal Data System governing board; Aggregate data tables; or Research or evaluation; Analyze social determinants from the following State agencies and appropriate local agencies that impact the education performance of students and indicate the need for wraparound services of students: The Maryland Department of Health; The Department of Juvenile Services; and The Department of Human Services; To the extent practicable, conduct longitudinal studies of the items under this section to evaluate the impact of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future on the State; Share data with third–party data centers only in accordance with § 24–703.4 of this subtitle; Fulfill information and data requests to facilitate State and federal education reporting with existing State agencies as appropriate; and Fulfill approved public information requests. The Center shall submit a report to the Accountability and Implementation Board on the information determined under subsection (f)(7) and (8) of this section. Direct access to data in the Maryland Longitudinal Data System shall be restricted to authorized staff of the Center. The Center may only use de–identified data in the analysis, research, and reporting conducted by the Center. The Center may only use aggregate data in the release of data in reports and in response to data requests. Data that may be identifiable based on the size or uniqueness of the population under consideration may not be reported in any form by the Center. The Center may not release or sell information that may not be disclosed under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other relevant privacy laws and policies. The Center may receive funding from the following sources: State appropriations; Grants or other assistance from local education agencies and institutions of higher education; Federal grants; and Any other grants or contributions from public or private entities received by the Center.