NCREL Policy Issues
Issue 15, January 2004
Policy Analysis
12. State Use of Analyzed Data to Shape Policy
Systematic "mining" of data already being collected is an important emerging opportunity for states—and the federal government—to enhance capabilities for data-based decision making and policy setting. As discussed above, many states in the North Central region make the data they collect publicly available, and some states aid districts in interpreting the data. There is little evidence, however, that any of these states analyzes its own data and uses the results to shape state policy. Data-based decision making is a virtue that states tend to preach but not practice. Some states recently have experienced high turnover of decision makers and staff in their education agencies, making consistent policy setting based on longitudinal data more difficult. If newly elected or appointed officials are to make good on promises of reforming education, they should make better use of the performance data that would allow effective improvements.
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