Florida’s Leading Student Data Model: Why CFEED is the Blueprint for the Nation
November 19, 2025
Florida has long been recognized for its early investments in education data but a new report by the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) confirms just how far the state has come. According to researchers, Florida is the only state to meet all 10 essential criteria for a statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS), and one of just 26 to link early childhood, K-12, post-secondary, and workforce data in a unified infrastructure.
Among the many systems reviewed, one stood out: CFEED, the Central Florida Education Ecosystem Database.
Developed through a multi-institutional partnership and supported behind the scenes by Midtown Consulting Group (MCG), CFEED isn’t just tracking student progress. It’s changing the outcome.
CFEED: A National Model for Cross-Sector Collaboration
CFEED brings together four major education institutions in Central Florida:
- Orange County Public Schools
- School District of Osceola County
- Valencia College
- University of Central Florida
Their mission: to use longitudinal data and predictive analytics to improve analytics to improve transitions, remove barriers, and deliver personalized support to students at scale.
By linking their systems, these partners can:
- Track individual student journeys across institutions
- Conduct 50-60 applied research projects annually
- Act on real-time insights that improve readiness, retention, and graduation
From Insights to Impact
What makes CFEED different isn’t just its data — it’s what the institutions do with it.
Highlighted in the FCAN report are several examples of how the partnership has turned data into better decision-making:
Transfer Readiness
CFEED found that students who complete at least three major-relevant courses at Valencia before transferring to UCF are more likely to graduate. That insight helped secure a $1.3M Helios Foundation grant, launching a new advising and scholarship program.
Toxic Combinations & Synergistic Pairs (New)
Through advanced course sequencing analysis using Azure’s machine learning studio, CFEED identified combinations of courses that consistently lead to lower GPAs or increased retake rates. These “toxic combinations” are now shared with partners. Conversely, the CFEED team also identified synergistic pairs. The resulting “Combinations” and “Pairs” are identified for GPA performance groups to help align individual student’s needs.
CPP: Common Program Prerequisites (New)
By identifying which prerequisites best predict upper-division success, partners are aligning advising and degree maps to support smoother academic progression and better time to degree.
AI-Enhanced Analysis (New)
A new chat interface powered by AI search and ChatGPT‑4o mini gives partners instant access to the entire project portfolio—quickly connecting insights from individual past and current research projects to compile overarching findings.
College Acceleration Access
Student readiness signals now drive proactive enrollment in AP and dual enrollment courses, closing equity gaps in access to advanced learning opportunities.
Course Sequencing + Risk Mitigation
Predictive models flag “shock events” like low GPAs, course withdrawals, or enrollment dips—enabling schools to intervene early and keep students on track toward graduation.
Why It Matters Now
As Florida sets its sights on becoming the #1 state for workforce education by 2030, models like CFEED offer a strategic path forward.
The FCAN report recommends expanding research capacity, improving data access, and investing in scalable infrastructure. CFEED is already delivering on all three – with proven results and a replicable framework.
In short: CFEED is doing what many other regions hope to do—link systems, surface insights, and deliver better student outcomes.
What’s Next
With continued support, CFEED plans to expand its system to include workforce data, enabling partners to track graduates into the labor market and align programs with economic demand.
It’s not just a data sharing initiative; it is a working model of what’s possible when K-12, higher ed, and analytics come together to serve students across the entire journey.
Explore the Model
MCG is proud to support CFEED’s technical strategy and system development. To see more on how the model works and how other institutions can replicate it, explore: