The US Department of Education is uniquely focused on performance measurement as they consider education funding through the stimulus package. As we review the metrics that have been offered for comment for both the Race to the Top and School Improvement Grant applications, we think it critical that the department tie the data requests to specific outcomes.

In our work with organizations in the Education sector, stakeholders almost always describe their need for more "data".  However, as they expound on their challenges, it becomes clear that their interest is not in obtaining more data.  In fact, they're often swimming in data.  What schools truly want and need is more information.