An ideal LDS may not be available out-of-the-box

An education agency should not expect an "out-of-the-box" LDS or LDS component to be a success without extensive agency involvement for a number of reasons.

• A successful LDS needs to take into account and meet stakeholder needs, which vary among regions and organizations. Agency staff should carefully plan the system, learn about possible solutions, and figure out how best to meet their stakeholders' needs and benefit their students. If these stages are skipped, there is little way to know if the purchased product is what is actually needed today or in the future. Being an informed consumer is essential to getting a successful system.
• An LDS is not a one-time effort. In addition to initial development costs, ongoing maintenance and updating are required to ensure long-term value.
• Beyond the technology, an LDS requires an organization to shift its ideas about data, valuing information as a tool rather than seeing it as a burden. Ongoing planning, communication, and professional development for users are necessary to make this happen.

"This LDS thing makes me uncomfortable. It's just going to be used as Big Brother."