Strategic Data Project Convening 2026

Session Description: This session explores how emerging speech and sensing technologies and teacher-feedback tools can enhance school-readiness measurement by capturing naturalistic indicators of language, engagement, and self-regulation. Speakers will examine links between these multimodal data sources and traditional readiness assessments, highlight responsible integration within multilingual and culturally diverse classrooms, and share models for open, researcher-accessible data infrastructures. Participants will gain actionable insights for incorporating these innovations into early childhood and P20W data systems to support equitable, evidence-based decision-making.

Intended Audience: State education agencies; Philanthropies and Foundations; Managers of data or technology teams

Session Description: Community colleges often celebrate high transfer rates, yet students who transfer without a credential face weaker long-term outcomes. This session shares a case study from Madison College where disaggregated data revealed a hidden completion risk among high-momentum transfer and dual credit students. Participants will explore how evidence reshaped advising, governance metrics, and partnerships, and reflect on how to communicate honest results in ways that strengthen completion and trust.

Intended Audience: Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors); State education agencies; Philanthropies and Foundations