Which statement about data governance is NOT a component of effective district data governance?

• A. Clear data ownership and access controls.
• B. Ad hoc data handling without policies.
• C. Defined data quality metrics and privacy protections.
• D. Publicly sharing all data without restrictions.

Answer: (B)

Effective district data governance relies on policy-driven, structured processes that define who owns data, who can access it, how data quality is measured, and how privacy is protected, as well as how data is shared under controlled conditions. Ad hoc data handling without policies directly violates that approach by removing accountability and consistency, leaving data usage unpredictable and risky; it is not part of governance. Clear data ownership and access controls, and defined data quality metrics with privacy protections, support trustworthy data and responsible use. Publicly sharing all data without restrictions is not aligned with governance due to privacy and security concerns, though the most straightforward indicator of governance failure is the absence of formal policy.