What is Data Drift?

Data Drift is what happens when a school has access to valuable information—but it’s ignored, disorganized, misunderstood, or left untouched.
It’s when data is collected because it has to be, not because it will be used.
It’s when insights exist, but they don’t reach the people who need them.
It’s when information floats between files, teams, and platforms, disconnected from real action.

It’s silent, invisible, and deeply damaging.

You’ll recognize it in phrases like:

  • “We have the data, but we haven’t looked at it yet.”
  • “I think someone created a report, but I’m not sure where it is.”
  • “We track that… but we don’t really use it.”
  • “That spreadsheet’s out of date. We’ll just estimate.”

You’ll see it in:

  • Unused assessment results
  • Progress reviews that never reach students
  • Attendance data that never triggers interventions
  • Hours of manual data entry with no real outcome
  • Staff overloaded with reporting, but under-informed

This is Data Drift. And it costs schools clarity, time, and most importantly—impact.

How Does Data Drift Show Up?

The Consequences No One Talks About

When data drifts, so does decision-making.

  • Struggling students go unnoticed until it’s too late
  • Trends stay hidden until they become problems
  • Teachers operate without feedback loops
  • Leaders plan based on instinct instead of evidence

In short, schools operate in the dark—even when the light switch is right there.

Schools don’t need more data.
They need intentionality, structure, and culture around how it’s used.

The opposite of Data Drift is Data Leadership:
Making sure the right people see the right information at the right time—so that actions are clear, targeted, and effective.

This isn’t a tech issue.
It’s a mindset.
A shift from collecting data because we must to using it because we care.

Why Now Is the Time to Act

It’s time we stop letting valuable insight slip through the cracks. It’s time we reclaim the power of the information we already have. It’s time we end Data Drift.

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