DATAG 2026 Summer Conference

As districts continue to expand the amount of data available to educators, a persistent challenge remains; how to ensure professional development meaningfully supports staff in using data effectively, accurately, and with fidelity. This focus panel is designed to elevate the conversation from tools and platforms to best practices in professional development that lead to informed, student-centered decision making.
This double-session panel will bring together a diverse group of educational leaders representing downstate, mid-state, and upstate New York, including two BOCES/RIC representatives and two district administrators. Panelists will share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and practical strategies for building data literacy across districts of varying sizes and contexts.
Through guided discussion and audience engagement, panelists will explore what constitutes “good data” versus “no good data,” how to build meaningful datasets that present a full picture of a student, and how districts ensure data integrity and fidelity. The panel will also address common implementation hurdles, strategies for gaining staff buy-in, approaches to professional development design and delivery, and methods for managing multiple data systems and platforms.
Attendees will leave with actionable insights, guiding questions, and shared practices they can immediately apply to strengthen professional learning and data-informed decision making in their own organizations.

As schools expand their use of data, dashboards, and AI-powered tools, leaders must balance innovation with privacy, security, and compliance. This panel will explore how various state, regional, and district partners are navigating student data governance while supporting effective decision-making and future-ready practices.

This session will provide a definition for responsible AI use in the context of school data analysis; identify key risks, safeguards, and decision points when using AI tools with education data; practice applying a simple checklist to evaluate whether an AI-supported analysis task is appropriate, private, and useful; and develop one practical next step for using AI responsibly in the participant’s role.

FRICCS is a collaborative group of New York State’s Regional Information Center (RIC) and BOCES partners, working alongside Frontline Education, to strengthen service delivery and support for New York school districts using Frontline systems. In this interactive session, attendees will learn what FRICCS is, how the group meets and shares practices to support one another, and how that collaboration translates into clearer, faster pathways to help districts. Presenters will also walk through the primary Frontline support options available to districts (within the application and through regional partners) and share practical tips for getting the right help at the right time.

Cybersecurity awareness is no longer optional it’s an essential component of digital citizenship for every member of a school community. With the adoption of NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, districts are being asked to take a more intentional, measurable, and people centered approach to cyber readiness. This session will highlight how Cyber IQ supports that shift by strengthening the “Identify,” “Protect,” and “Respond” functions through comprehensive human behavior training and analytics.

We’ll explore how Cyber IQ empowers districts to build their human firewall through realistic phishing simulations, customizable training modules, behavioral‑based risk analysis, and real‑time reporting. Participants will learn how the platform integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Google Mail, adapts to emerging threats, supports faculty, staff, students, and parents, and helps districts meet compliance expectations including the growing emphasis on cybersecurity awareness outlined in NIST CSF 2.0.

Description: This session will provide an overview of the eScholar project, highlighting how upcoming enhancements are designed to streamline LEA workflows and improve day-to-day efficiency for staff. Attendees will be introduced to five key new features—including location mapping, enhanced search capabilities, and improved data processing—that reduce manual effort, increase data visibility, and simplify common tasks. Through live demonstrations, the presentation will showcase system scalability, including file handling and concurrent user activity, reinforcing reliability during peak workloads. The session will also illustrate how these improvements accelerate speed to value, empowering LEA teams with faster access to accurate data and a more seamless, user-friendly experience—making the extended project timeline a worthwhile investment.

Join us for our Women in Technology joins DATAG!  Bringing women from DATAG and across New York State together for a time of connection and conversation. Attendees will hear a few inspiring stories from other women about the challenges and successes they’ve experienced in their careers, participate in an activity, and have some time for networking all while enjoying a snack and some iced coffee or tea.