Welcome to our guide on the tiered flow of participation data! This structured approach is designed to respect local control while ensuring consistency at the national level. Let’s break down how this process works, step by step.

Schools play a crucial role in this process by providing or confirming participation counts based on their local records. This can happen through a state-selected process or platform, such as FinalForms, ensuring that the data is accurate and reflective of the school's actual participation.

Once schools have submitted their data, state associations take the next step. They review, compile, and validate the school-level data to ensure its accuracy. Each state has the authority to determine how the data is collected and when it is submitted, allowing for flexibility and local oversight.

After the state associations finalize the participation data, it is submitted to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The NFHS then aggregates this data across all states to produce national reports and research, providing valuable insights into participation trends.

This tiered flow of participation data offers several important benefits:

• Schools retain ownership of their data, ensuring that they have control over the information they provide.

• States maintain oversight and authority, allowing them to manage the data collection process effectively.

• NFHS receives consistent and defensible data for national reporting, which enhances the reliability of the information shared.

By following this structured approach, we can ensure that participation data is handled with care and accuracy, benefiting schools, states, and national organizations alike.