As data transforms educational processes, it’s easy to forget what the alternative looks like. Without data — and a culture that facilitates data-driven insights — decisions may be based on opinion, assumption or speculation.

Data supports decision-making by ensuring that insights are accurate and actionable, says Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, president and CEO of the Data Quality Campaign, a nonprofit organization that advocates for data policy and use. That’s especially important as schools seek to provide academic continuity amid current remote learning challenges of the pandemic.

“Data is going to be that thread that allows school leaders and teachers to plan for what kids need,” she says.

Districts of all sizes are using data-oriented processes and solutions to personalize instruction, manage IT and educational resources, and support operations. The experiences of three districts — the School District of Palm Beach County in Florida, Osseo Area Schools in Minnesota and Saugus Union School District in California — demonstrate the diversity of data initiatives and the importance of building a culture around them.