Strategic Data Project Convening 2026

Session Description: In the age of Generative AI, student data is no longer just a record of achievement; it’s the key source for training and refining frontier models. As districts determine what AI tools to use, procurement is the intersection where safety meets connectivity. Participants will get hands-on experience with our AI Data Use and Protection Toolkit and walk away with a standardized framework for vetting AI vendors through the S.A.F.E. benchmarks and Project Unicorn’s interoperability standards.

Intended Audience: Districts, charters or other local education agencies; State education agencies; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Session Description: This session demonstrates how to automate data pipelines to support advanced analysis and decision making. We highlight a predictive model from Metro Nashville Public Schools identifying 3rd-grade retention risks a year early to trigger proactive interventions and midyear implementation reports from AmplifyLearn.AI for a dozen public school districts on the implementation of the Colleague AI platform. This session will show how even small teams can create reports that dynamically update with new data.

Intended Audience: Data analysts or independent researchers; Managers of data or technology teams; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)

Session Description: In an era of rising skepticism, how do we build the evidence necessary to sustain bold educational innovations? We will go under the hood of two complex evaluations, a large-scale literacy pilot in Oakland and a workforce redesign initiative, to demonstrate how partial proof and transparent data practices can strengthen stakeholder trust. Data leaders and researchers will leave with strategic understandings for conducting and communicating rigorous evaluation when time is short and data is messy.

Intended Audience: Data analysts or independent researchers; Districts, charters or other local education agencies; Philanthropies and Foundations; State education agencies; Senior leaders (including cabinet-level leaders and executive directors)