Essential Data Literacy
Online Workshops
For school leaders, system leaders, leadership teams, and school board members who want to understand and use their data better.
Upcoming:
Understanding & Using Academic Performance Data
Eastern Time:
March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)
April 16, 2026 (Thursday)
Pacific Time:
May 5, 2026 (Tuesday)
June 17, 2026 (Wednesday)
Attend one, two, or all three sessions:
“Better than Average”
Summarizing
9:00 – 10:00 (PT)
12:00 – 1:00 (ET)
In the first session, we’ll look at what averages can and cannot tell us about data.
We’ll dig into distributions and will explore some questions they help us ask about our data.
To fill out the picture, we’ll look at additional measures like percentile, median, and interquartile range.
By the end, participants should understand how to summarize their data without oversimplifying it.
Between: Apply the prior session's activity to your organization’s data.
“Made to Measure”
Investigating
11:00 – 12:00 (PT)
2:00 – 3:00 (ET)
In the second session, we’ll look at key differences between metrics for long-term strategic goals and annual targets for monitoring progress towards meeting those goals.
We’ll dig into how to ask questions about data and will explore when to ask for more or different data and visualizations of data.
To fill out the picture, we’ll look at making judgements and decisions with metrics and targets, identifying questions that can – and questions that cannot – be answered with a dataset.
By the end, participants should understand several ways to investigate their data to answer the question, “How are we doing?”
Between: Apply the prior session's activity to your organization’s data.
“Onward and Upward... or Downward”
Anticipating
1:30 – 2:30 (PT)
4:30 – 5:30 (ET)
In the third session, we’ll look at how to identify and use patterns and trends in data.
We’ll dig into using data over time and will explore the limitations of data in differentiating cause from effect.
To fill out the picture, we’ll look at when comparisons can (and cannot) help with making judgements or decisions.
By the end, participants should understand some reliable ways to use data to anticipate future conditions.
After: Apply the prior session's activity to your organization’s data.
Scott Barksdale
is a former principal and system leader, and is Founder & Project Lead at Learning Curve Analytics, LLC.
Joe McIntyre
teaches data analytics and questionnaire design at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
As a result of attending the Essential Data Literacy Workshop, I feel better equipped to support our board members in leveraging data for decision-making. The day balanced learning with application, allowing participants to absorb new concepts and practice them in real time. I would highly recommend this to any organization looking to strengthen their understanding of data in a practical, user-friendly way.
Tina Pinkoson
Director of Leadership Services | Florida School Boards Association
Additional Information
Between-Session Data Meetings
Prompts and supports will be provided for optional between-session data meetings to “try it out” with data you bring from your own organization. Share out questions that come up, and they will be addressed in the following session or in the workshop’s follow-up email.
Paper & Pencil
Outside of knowing how to use Zoom, the only additional technology you’ll need is a piece of paper and a pencil. That’s it. We’ll share blank graphs that you will print and fill in with the practice data during the sessions and your organization’s data between sessions. A few different colors of pencils, pens, or markers would be ideal.
Data
We will provide practice data for the session activities (your state’s SAT data). To get the most out of the between-session data meetings, bring your own system-wide or school-wide SAT reports, or other norm-referenced (e.g. NWEA or STAR) or criterion-referenced reports (e.g. state assessment results).
One Free Guest
We value collaboration across roles. So: a paying school board member can invite one free administrator; a paying administrator can invite one free school board member. Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate!