The Data for Decisions Initiative provides resources to educators, policymakers, and researchers to help them increase their understanding and capacity around the growing field of data for decision-making.
In recent years, a philosophical shift has occurred in which educators are encouraged to use data for continuous improvement, not just for compliance and accountability purposes. This shift also involves a growing emphasis on diverse data sources to inform educators about addressing the whole child, while taking on an asset model and using an equity lens. Increasingly, data are used to inform instructional and administrative issues by educators. They are also used to address pressing education questions by policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders. Thus, WestEd created an initiative to help educators, policymakers, and researchers increase understanding and capacity around the growing field of data for decision-making.
The Data for Decisions Initiative has four foci:
- Promote awareness around technical assistance and professional development
- Promote culturally responsive data literacy, especially data ethics
- Organize and support collaboration and convenings
- Disseminate new and important research in the field
