HERSHEY, PA — At the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, educators and policymakers gathered for the annual Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Data Summit. Over three days, from March 11 to March 13, 2024, they delved into the world of data, exploring its potential to revolutionize public education in the Commonwealth.
The summit was led by PDE Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, who championed data as a vital tool in policy-making. “Data provides us with a clear, unbiased picture of the state of public education,” said Mumin. “It allows us to identify areas requiring improvement, barriers to services, and to celebrate our successes. Ultimately, it opens doors to opportunities that can transform our schools, students, and communities.”
The role of data in shaping policy and budgetary priorities was a central theme of the summit. This year, data informed several key initiatives, notably the universal free breakfast participation program. After a 20% increase in usage, Governor Josh Shapiro has requested an additional $16.7 million to ensure all children have access to a free breakfast at school.
Data also shed light on the need for reforms in higher education. Pennsylvania currently ranks 49th in the nation for investment in higher education and 48th in affordability. With Pennsylvanians shouldering an average student debt load of $40,000, and with a talent gap leaving 61,000 jobs unfilled in the past year, the data underscores the urgent need for a new governance structure and increased investments in the higher education sector.
At the PDE Data Summit, educators and school leaders had the opportunity to learn, connect, and discuss education data with their peers. Breakout sessions and keynote speeches covered a gamut of topics, from school data reporting and improving data quality, to data governance and school improvement. Other themes included cybersecurity and social-emotional learning, highlighting the broad application of data in education.
Themed “A World of Opportunities: See Where Data Can Take You,” the conference offered attendees invaluable professional learning opportunities. They gained technical skills and left with a deeper understanding of their data and its potential to benefit their school communities.
The implications of this data-driven approach are profound. It has the potential to revolutionize public education in Pennsylvania by identifying areas of improvement, informing policy decisions, and guiding resource allocation. By leveraging data, the Commonwealth is poised to tackle key challenges in education, from basic needs like breakfast provision to complex issues like higher education reform.
As Pennsylvania continues to harness the power of data, it paves the way for a new era of public education – one where data-driven insights lead to informed decisions, improved services, and enhanced outcomes for students. This transformative approach could serve as a model for other states, demonstrating how data can create a world of opportunities for public education.
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