Administrators need to be able to collect, analyze, and use data in ways that benefit students, according to the nonprofit Data Quality Campaign. To be able to do that, administrators should be well-versed in data literacy. Their report states that even though administrators may not work directly with students, they also must use data to improve student outcomes. Data Quality Campaign argues that data-literate administrators—those who can effectively and ethically access and use data to improve outcomes for all students in an appropriate manner should be able to leverage both academic and administrative data from local, district, state, and federal levels. When addressing how state policymakers can best support administrator data literacy, the report points to three key areas: promoting data-use skills, ensuring ease of access, and safeguarding student data.
