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:

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