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.