Since the initial authorizing legislation for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1986, the scope and complexity of data collected by Part C programs have significantly increased. Formal governance establishes responsibility for Part C data and enables program staff to improve the effectiveness of data processes and support greater use of data through the systematic creation and enforcement of data policies, roles, responsibilities, and procedures. The 2013 DaSy Needs Assessment (2013) found that only 17% of Part C programs reported having formal data governance systems in place. This brief promotes formal data governance by: (1) describing the lessons learned from other industries that supports the need for formal Part C data governance; (2) outlining the risks of informal data governance and the benefits of formal data governance; and (3) providing action steps to support state Part C systems' in establishing or improving formal data governance.