In the complex ecosystem of independent schools, data often exists in silos that don’t naturally communicate with each other. Does your fundraising platform use different labels than your student information system? Is your student health program collecting redundant information that already exists in another platform? These disconnects can create inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities across your institution.
While schools may employ diverse technological solutions—often selected by different departments at different times for different purposes—the essential data pathway remains consistent: identify the source of information, assign responsibility for data entry, determine practical applications, and recognize the end users.
Foundational to effective institutional management and decision-making, data governance is “a set of rules around access, entry, and maintenance of information in school data sets that ensures information is consistent, interoperable across systems, and can be flexibly leveraged to yield operational insights,” according to the Center for Institutional Research in Independent Schools (CIRIS)
For independent schools, robust data governance ensures information remains accurate across departments while breaking down information silos between them. When thoughtfully implemented, data governance can transform information into a strategic asset that improves data quality, enhances security, and facilitates more meaningful use of available information.
Mapping your school’s data through a data flow diagram can transform complex systems into clear visual representations. Beyond operational benefits, data flow diagrams create essential documentation of information input and requirements while identifying potential security risks where sensitive information might be exposed. By visualizing how data moves through your school, you’ll spot inefficiencies, uncover improvement opportunities, and ultimately enhance overall functionality, leading to more efficient operations and better decision-making.
