Stephanie Franklin: The Role of Data in Making Education Policy Count - and the Challenges Behind It

How do you measure whether an education policy is actually working?In this episode, I talk with Stephanie Franklin, Deputy Associate Commissioner of Strategy and Analytics at one of the largest education agencies in the U.S.We dive into the grounding yet complex role data plays in education - how student outcomes are tracked, how metrics are built to drive accountability, and the delicate balance between actionable insight and student privacy, in a world of emerging tech.From evaluating classroom initiatives to exploring why education is inherently data-driven, this conversation unpacks the challenge of measuring what matters - and why great policy still hinges on effective execution.If you’ve ever wondered how governments gauge success in education - or why it’s so difficult - this episode is for you!