Street Data

1. Street Data: A Revolutionary Approach to Educational Equity

Street data is the qualitative and experiential data that emerges at eye level and on lower frequencies when we train our brains to discern it.

Redefining educational data. Street data represents a paradigm shift in how we approach educational equity and transformation. Unlike traditional "satellite data" like test scores and attendance rates, street data focuses on the lived experiences of students, teachers, and communities. This approach values qualitative information gathered through observation, conversation, and immersion in the school environment.

Holistic understanding. Street data provides a more comprehensive view of student learning and school culture by considering:

• Student voices and perspectives
• Classroom dynamics and interactions
• Cultural contexts and community knowledge
• Non-academic factors that impact learning

By embracing street data, educators can develop a nuanced understanding of equity challenges and identify more effective, culturally responsive solutions.

2. Flipping the Dashboard: From Satellite to Street-Level Insights

We have to turn to map and street level data to uncover student assets, understand root causes, and seek transformative solutions.

Moving beyond numbers. Traditional educational metrics often fail to capture the full picture of student experiences and learning. The street data approach encourages educators to "flip the dashboard" by prioritizing qualitative, ground-level information over quantitative, high-level data.

Three levels of data:

1. Satellite data: Broad quantitative measures (test scores, attendance rates)
2. Map data: Mid-level trends (surveys, common assessments)
3. Street data: Granular, experiential information (observations, conversations, artifacts)

By focusing on street data, educators can:

• Identify hidden strengths and challenges
• Understand the context behind quantitative data
• Develop more targeted and effective interventions
• Challenge deficit narratives about marginalized students

3. The Power of Listening: Centering Marginalized Voices

By choosing the margins as the starting point for our data conversations—those quiet places where the hopes, dreams, and stories of our most disenfranchised students and families live—we invert the pyramid, shift the dynamics of power, and bring children to the center of educational discourse.

Radical inclusion. The street data approach emphasizes the importance of listening deeply to those who are often overlooked in educational decision-making. This includes students of color, English language learners, students with disabilities, and families from marginalized communities.

Strategies for centering marginalized voices:

• Empathy interviews with students and families
• Student-led conferences and feedback sessions
• Community walks and home visits
• Participatory action research involving students

By prioritizing these voices, educators can:

• Uncover hidden barriers to equity
• Tap into community cultural wealth
• Build trust and stronger relationships
• Develop more culturally responsive practices

4. Uncovering Root Causes: Moving Beyond Quick Fixes

Seek root causes over quick fixes.

Digging deeper. The street data approach encourages educators to move beyond surface-level solutions and address the underlying factors contributing to inequity. This requires a commitment to curiosity and a willingness to challenge assumptions.

Tools for uncovering root causes:

• The iceberg protocol: Examining patterns, structures, and mental models
• Peeling the onion: A structured approach to problem analysis
• Equity-focused classroom scans
• Student shadowing experiences

By focusing on root causes, educators can:

• Develop more sustainable and impactful solutions
• Address systemic issues rather than symptoms
• Challenge implicit biases and deficit thinking
• Create lasting cultural and institutional change

5. Reimagining Education: Fostering Student Agency and Voice

Agency doesn't emerge in a vacuum, nor does it flourish in a traditional classroom where the teacher is positioned as a content expert dishing out knowledge. It emerges in a learning space where power is distributed, knowledge is democratized, diverse perspectives are welcomed, and children are intellectually and emotionally nourished.

Pedagogy of voice. The street data approach advocates for a fundamental shift in how we view teaching and learning. Instead of a compliance-based model, it promotes a pedagogy that centers student agency, voice, and critical consciousness.

Six simple rules for a pedagogy of voice:

1. Talk less, smile more
2. Questions over answers
3. Ritualize reflection and revision
4. Make learning public
5. Circle up
6. Feedback over grades

By embracing this approach, educators can:

• Increase student engagement and motivation
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Foster a sense of belonging and empowerment
• Prepare students for active citizenship and lifelong learning

6. Building Coherence: Aligning Vision, Practice, and Assessment

Less is more; focus is everything.

Systemic alignment. To effectively implement street data and a pedagogy of voice, schools and districts must create coherence between their vision, instructional practices, and assessment methods. This requires a clear focus and a willingness to let go of traditional approaches that no longer serve students.

Key elements of coherence:

• Developing a shared graduate profile
• Implementing performance-based assessments
• Aligning professional learning with equity goals
• Creating a common language around teaching and learning

Benefits of building coherence:

• Clearer direction for educators and students
• More meaningful and authentic assessments
• Increased alignment between values and practices
• Greater impact on student outcomes and equity

7. Transforming Adult Culture: Embracing Vulnerability and Continuous Learning

The magic is not in any protocol or plan that we hand out; rather the magic is in the mindset of the people who are sitting down to engage in that protocol.

Shifting adult mindsets. Implementing street data and equity-focused practices requires a transformation in how educators approach their own learning and growth. This involves embracing vulnerability, challenging assumptions, and committing to continuous improvement.

Strategies for transforming adult culture:

• Public learning practices
• Equity-focused instructional rounds
• Collaborative data analysis protocols
• Reflective listening and coaching conversations

By fostering a culture of adult learning, schools can:

• Break down barriers to equity work
• Increase collective efficacy and collaboration
• Model lifelong learning for students
• Create a more responsive and adaptive educational system

8. The Warm Demander: Calling Educators to Equity and Excellence

Every moment is an equity moment.

Balancing care and high expectations. The concept of the "warm demander" embodies the approach needed to effectively implement street data and equity-focused practices. It combines high expectations for students and colleagues with genuine care and support.

Characteristics of a warm demander:

• Believes in the impossible
• Builds trust and relationships
• Teaches self-discipline
• Embraces failure as a learning opportunity

Warm demander strategies:

• Show strength by maintaining high standards
• Listen and affirm experiences of marginalized voices
• Challenge and offer choices for growth
• Move with courage to implement changes

By adopting a warm demander stance, educators can:

• Address equity issues with compassion and firmness
• Build trusting relationships with students and families
• Create a culture of continuous improvement
• Model antiracist and culturally responsive practices

Last updated: January 23, 2025