16: Data Governance in Education: Building Secure, Accurate, and Usable Systems

When reports don’t align or numbers don’t match, confusion takes over and trust in data suffers. That’s why data governance is essential. In this episode of System Shift, Drs. Gail, Leesa, & Mary Beth welcome back Jeremy Deckard and Jimmie Houts of Viridian Education to break down what K-12 data governance really means, why it matters, and how schools can begin to strengthen their own practices. Far from being just a technical or IT concern, data governance touches every person and part of a district to ensure that student information is secure, accurate, and be actually usable for decision-making. Jimmie and Jeremy share practical advice, free tools, and mindset shifts to help districts of all sizes move from siloed and inconsistent practices toward reliable, transparent systems that serve both staff and students. In This Episode: What “data governance” really means in the K-12 context The role of IT leaders, data stewards, and other stakeholders in securing and managing data Why governance isn’t about restriction, it’s about enabling smart data use Common signs of strong (and weak) data governance in schools Free tools and resources to help districts assess and strengthen their practices Key Takeaway: Strong data governance isn’t about locking down information, it’s about creating trust, clarity, and consistency so data can fuel the decisions that improve student outcomes. Resources: Viridian Education Data Improvement Center Data Use Self-Assessment Educational Data Partnership   Student Data Laws Mentioned: AB1584 COPPA FERPA   Visit us at navigatedu.com!