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U.S. students continue to lag behind their peers in other high-performing nations—a stark reminder that district and school leaders must find better ways to drive measurable results. With increased scrutiny and a higher bar for accountability, they need to know what’s happening in their own schools and classrooms—what’s working, what’s not, why, and what can be done about it. And evidence-based interventions are just half of the success equation; they also need better data insights.

During the edLeader Panel “Leveraging Data for Systemwide Intervention Results,” education leaders and experts explored why stronger, districtwide data systems matter. Using District 16 of New York City Public Schools as a case study, they unpacked how leaders can impact outcomes with the right tools and data.

“Too much can become data torture. That’s the look you see on the faces of teachers and others when leaders mention data or implementing a new program,” said Fabayo McIntosh, Superintendent of District 16 of the New York City Public Schools. Educators often get inundated with spreadsheets and numbers, drowning out the purpose and potential of the data they reveal. Incoherent or untimely data also leaves leaders and educators in the dark and obscures how to take immediate action.

What Should You Expect From Your Data?

The right data strikes a balance between prioritizing the information that matters most and illuminating a path forward. McIntosh uses “data as a flashlight, not a report card,” to focus efforts on what works now and where urgent changes can shift trajectory. It flips the script, encouraging solution-oriented thinking and greater buy-in, she explained.

Getting focused and eliminating the data that is more noise than insight isn’t easy. It takes time. Dr. Michelle Barrett, former teacher and current Senior Vice President of Research, Policy, and Impact at Edmentum, recommends leaders focus on what will drive progress, including foundational metrics, attendance rates, universal screenings, and timely progress monitoring. Looking backward has some purpose, but data needs to be actionable.

“Districts can’t do trial and error anymore. They need to be selective about tools,” she said. Instead, ask “where growth is happening and for whom it’s happening. Is it in those you want to advance, or only pockets?” she said.

What Every Data System Should Deliver

The panelists identified three essential elements that the right data offers for systemwide intervention.

1. Clarity

District leaders “absolutely need visible data, accessible data, and to understand where and how intervention is being implemented,” said Dr. Barrett. For instance, at the student level, leaders need to provide educators with tools that quickly show how well a student has mastered a skill, identify potential gaps, and offer strategies for intervention.

Essentially, everyone needs to know what success looks like, what’s being measured, and what indicators support making decisions—whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, or leader.

2. Coherence

Data for data’s sake can blind innovation. A purposeful and aligned strategy becomes proactive and hopeful, shining a light on what works and inspiring change.

New York City Public Schools leaders “identify a few key indicators that tell the story of what we want to tell for learning. Once focus is clearly aligned across schools, it’s easier to bring alignment across every classroom,” said McIntosh.

3. Consistency

”Intervention is a tide that lifts all boats,” said Tatiana Ciccarelli, former teacher and current National Solutions Director at Edmentum. Intervention is not the sole function of a select few specialists; rather, it is the collective responsibility of all adults in contact with students.

“Data has to work in the daily work, daily routine,” so that leaders and educators can respond to patterns that arise, said McIntosh. That translates to standing meetings—weekly data huddles—for district and school leaders, where teams analyze results, support teaching, and encourage immediate re-teaching so educators can stay responsive to students’ immediate needs.

View the recording for more details from the case study, including challenges faced and practical ways to personalize instruction for all students.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Leveraging Data for Systemwide Intervention Results, sponsored by Edmentum.

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Edmentum believes that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive everywhere learning occurs—whether they seek to catch up, stay on track, or chart their own path. When you pair Edmentum’s comprehensive, research-backed learning acceleration solutions—including digital curriculum and courses, K-12 diagnostic-driven personalized intervention, and virtual instruction—with empowered and supported educators, you can change the direction of students’ lives. We partner with K-12 educators in all 50 states and 100+ countries worldwide to design, implement, and sustain the programs that deliver on this shared promise of learning acceleration for every student.

Article by Suzanne Bell, based on this edLeader Panel