Education Analytics: Driving Improvement in American Education Through Data and Insights

Education Analytics (EA) is an organization dedicated to enhancing American education through rigorous research and actionable analytics. By collaborating with a diverse range of partners, EA aims to illuminate patterns in data that drive continuous improvement in educational systems.

Partnerships and Collaboration

EA works with some of the largest education systems in the United States, as well as smaller districts, state departments of education, leading research institutions, universities, charter management organizations, and fellow non-profit organizations. In each partnership, EA leverages its broad experience to co-build tailored solutions that address specific needs and challenges. This collaborative approach ensures that the solutions are not only data-driven but also practical and sustainable.

Data Engineering: Transforming Data into Actionable Insights

A core function within EA is its Data Engineering (DE) team. This team plays a crucial role in transforming raw data into actionable insights, which are then used to inform decision-making at various levels of the education system. The DE team is one of the largest teams within the organization, highlighting the importance of data in EA's mission.

The Data Engineering team transforms #data into actionable insights. Thank you to Susan, John, Sam, Jacob, Claire, Ryan, Greg, Keen, and Tom for advancing EA’s mission and infrastructure! Thank you to Jordan, Julianna, Rob, Theo, Markisha, Alex, Angelica, Jay, and Na for advancing EA's mission and infrastructure!

Rally Analytics Platform: Empowering Educators with Data

One of EA's key offerings is the Rally Analytics Platform. Developed in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Education and CORE Districts, Rally provides educators and administrators with access to academic and well-being data. This platform empowers them to better understand and support their students.

In 2025, districts across South Carolina began using the Groups and Interventions feature within Rally, giving administrators and staff a streamlined way to organize, track, and strengthen their supplemental student support programs.

Technical Expertise: Building User-Focused Dashboards

EA emphasizes the importance of user-focused design in its products and services. As highlighted in the Technical Tuesday series, the process of building dashboards begins with a clear understanding of the end-user's needs. By focusing on what data should be included and how it should be displayed, EA ensures that its dashboards are effective tools for educators.

To ensure dashboards truly support #educators, we start with the end in mind: What #data should we include? How should we display it?

Focus on Data Standards and Secure Solutions

EA places a strong emphasis on data security and interoperability. The organization utilizes data standards like Ed-Fi and CEDS to bring together data from multiple sources into one secure location. This approach not only ensures data privacy but also facilitates the creation of comprehensive and integrated data systems.

EA focuses on data and analytics to fuel transformational research. We provide secure, actionable solutions through the use of data standards like Ed-Fi and CEDS. Bring together data from multiple sources using Ed-Fi standards - so it all lands in one secure place. We build long-lasting solutions that provide the independence you want. Store your data in a dimensional warehouse designed for easy, secure access - putting you in control. Create extensible systems built for your unique needs.

Research and Development

EA is committed to conducting research that informs and improves educational practices. One example of this is a project aimed at refining and validating an open-source social emotional learning (SEL) survey instrument. This research contributes to the development of tools that can be used to assess and support students' social and emotional well-being.

In this project, researchers propose to refine and validate an open-source social emotional learning (SEL) survey instrument developed by California's CORE Districts for students in grades 4 through 12.

Addressing Teacher Quality

EA recognizes the importance of teacher quality in student achievement. The organization's work aligns with initiatives such as Title II, Part A, which aims to improve teacher quality through federal funding. By focusing on data-driven solutions, EA contributes to efforts to support and develop effective teachers, particularly in high-poverty schools.

Title II, Part A, the Improving Teacher Quality State Formula Grants program, is the primary federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to improve teacher quality. Research has shown that, on average, novice teachers are less effective in improving student achievement than their more experienced peers. This is particularly an issue given that new teachers tend to be concentrated in high-poverty schools with lower-performing students.

Commitment to Innovation and Responsiveness

Education Analytics prides itself on its ability to anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of its partners. This commitment to innovation and responsiveness ensures that EA's solutions remain relevant and effective in a dynamic educational landscape.

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In my ten years with the South Carolina Department of Education, I’ve found EA’s ability to anticipate and respond to our needs to be exceptional.

A Human-Centered Approach

EA's platforms are designed with the user in mind, ensuring they are intuitive and empower teams to make data-driven decisions. This human-centered approach underscores EA's commitment to providing practical and accessible solutions for educators and administrators.

Our platforms are human-centered and intuitive, designed to empower your teams. From individualized research to ready-made, out-of-the-box solutions, we support the full spectrum of your analytics needs.

tags: #education #analytics #inc