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.
2026 SDP Convening
SDP Convening will be held May 13-14, 2026, in Cambridge, MA, at the Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge.
This year’s SDP Annual Convening theme is "Proof Positive"—our twin commitments to proof that guides decisions and positivity that sustains progress. With skepticism in science rising and research priorities shifting, the burden of proof is on us to demonstrate where our students stand and what works in education. But proof isn’t the whole story. In a time when facts seem hard to discern from fiction, we can light the path, build trustworthy data systems, strengthen relationships with the decision-makers who use them, and share data-informed wins openly and often.
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 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