SDP Convening
SDP Convening
Every year, our network of data strategists, education leaders, and research faculty come together to exchange knowledge and share what works in making evidence-informed change.
SDP Convening is an invitation-only event.
2027 SDP Convening
SDP Convening will be held May 19-20, 2027, in Cambridge, MA, at the Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge.
The 2027 SDP Annual Convening theme is Back to Basics, which is all about the fundamentals in education. Throughout the Convening, we invite you to join your fellow education leaders, data practitioners, and researchers to build up the foundational knowledge and skills needed to succeed in our changing world, and to come together on the core questions that must be at the center of such efforts.
Convening is a by-invitation-only event.
Present
Share your knowledge, skills, and experiences with the broader SDP network.
Network
Inspiring research and education leaders from across our networks attend our convenings. Join us to learn from others' expertise and experiences.
Celebrate
Current and former fellows can submit a project to be honored for evidence-informed excellence. Join us to celebrate their accomplishments.
Learn about previous Award recipients.
SDP Convening Sponsorship Opportunities
Reach a unique audience of hundreds of decisionmakers and data leads from across school systems, states, and nonprofit organizations ranging from early education through workforce.
Learn about strategic data work
Each spring, SDP Convening attendees hear from the graduating SDP Fellow cohort as they share their findings from strategic analytic questions their agency faced and the lessons they learned. In recent years, examples of SDP Fellows' projects include:
The 2026 SDP Annual Convening drew together over 300 representatives from SDP’s network of fellows, alumni, partner organizations, and special guests around the forward-looking theme "Proof Positive." Across two mainstage panels, one keynote, one EdTalk, and 30 breakout sessions, panelists, researchers, and graduating fellows shared evidence and ideas driving the education field forward.
The SDP Convening theme in 2025 was "Now What?" as we grappled with the major disruptions and opportunities of our time. We pivoted from celebrating the possibilities of data to engaging in dialogue about how to move from insights to action.
How do we translate technological advances in education into sustainable practices? How can we ensure ethical use of data while pushing the boundaries of innovation? What are the emerging trends and obstacles, and how can we prepare for them? Without clear evidence to guide where we go next, we risk slowing or undoing the progress we have made.
The 2024 SDP Convening theme of "Just Numbers" provoked a dual exploration—celebrating the power of data and evidence in driving decisions and policies, while simultaneously challenging us to consider the deeper, ethical implications of data usage in education. Together, we thought about the role of numbers in ensuring that the students and families who are most underserved by our systems have greater opportunities for an excellent education.
Past Agencies in Attendance
Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools
Gates Foundation
California Cradle-to-Career Data System
Chicago Public Schools
CityBridge Education
Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Cowen Institute, Tulane
EdReports.org
Fulton County Schools
Highlander Institute
Kentucky Department of Education
New York City Department of Education
New York State Education Department
Achievement Network
Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education
American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Atlanta Public Schools
California State University Educator Quality Center
CityBridge Education
Connecticut RISE
IDEA Public Schools
Lake Washington School District
Texas Education Agency
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Urban Teachers