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Could data collection be the Biden administration鈥檚 key to successful education?

The thought might elicit a collective groan from educators left bruised by the era of 鈥渨eaponized鈥� standardized testing ushered in by the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, acknowledges Jeffrey Henig . But, asserts Henig, Professor of Political Science & Education, 鈥渁 revamped approach to data collection could help restore and re-energize a community focus on public education 鈥� and also help the incoming Biden administration avoid a bruising partisan battle.鈥�

Henig applauds the Biden education agenda, which could include 鈥渕assive increases in federal funding for disadvantaged students, universal prekindergarten and tuition-free public colleges and universities for middle- and lower-income families.鈥� But to realize those goals, he argues, the Biden administration should fund and incentivize 鈥渢he 鈥渂ottom-up use鈥� of data in order to remove 鈥渋deological barriers to collaboration鈥� and speak to  鈥淩epublicans鈥� belief that innovation and creativity take place locally.鈥�

Information on its own won鈥檛 stimulate needed structural changes. It needs to be accompanied by resources, a strategy for shifting power relationships, and a patient investment in sustainable initiatives.

鈥擩effrey Henig, Professor of Political Science & Education

As a model for what he鈥檚 proposing, Henig cites the Urban Institute鈥檚 Data Walks, in which low-income communities have helped craft sexual-health-and-safety curricula for youths and adults and improved employment and education services.

鈥淚nformation on its own won鈥檛 stimulate needed structural changes,鈥� Henig concludes. 鈥淚t needs to be accompanied by resources, a strategy for shifting power relationships, and a patient investment in sustainable initiatives.鈥� But 鈥渄one well and wisely,鈥� better use of data could 鈥渂roaden and fortify a grassroots constituency to support the values the Biden administration hopes to bring to the fore.鈥�