Michigan Launches Innovative Data Lake to Transform Education

Michigan is taking a significant step towards modernizing its educational data systems with the development of a statewide, cloud-native data lake. The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) aims to create a secure environment that supports student success from prenatal stages through to workforce readiness. This initiative comes on the heels of MAISA receiving a 2025 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Award in July for its efforts in transforming the state’s education data architecture.

The existing educational data hub, established in 2013, has standardized and distributed key data to school districts. However, its capabilities are limited. The current system cannot scale effectively for statewide or cross-agency use, nor can it support advanced tools such as artificial intelligence, which are essential for providing predictive and personalized insights. The new data lake is designed to eliminate these limitations. It will enable schools to transition from reactive to proactive strategies, ultimately improving educational outcomes across various demographics.

According to Tammy Evans, project development director for MAISA’s Michigan IT, barriers to actionable data have prompted the redevelopment of Michigan’s educational data systems. A spring 2024 assessment conducted by her team revealed fragmented data systems that hinder districts from fully utilizing their data potential. “In this initiative, what we were trying to do was modernize the way in which we could gather structured and unstructured data into a statewide platform,” Evans stated. She emphasized the goal of providing educators and students with a more accurate reflection of their educational landscape.

The initiative is still in its early implementation phase, yet it is part of a broader shift towards integrating student information from multiple sources. This integration aims to support predictive analytics, advance equity initiatives, and facilitate long-term academic and behavioral planning. The rollout will commence with approximately 100 of the state’s 875 school districts as a proof of concept, with expectations for launch at the end of August 2024.

Despite the promise of enhanced data systems, researchers caution that simply introducing new technology will not automatically improve educational outcomes. Effective training, thoughtful implementation, and ongoing support for educators are crucial components. Doug Leisenring, project director for Michigan’s Data Lake, stresses the importance of considering classroom teachers’ needs in the system’s design process. “How do we get data to the classroom to improve instruction for kids? What do your teachers need? What is the information your teachers need to improve instruction?” he queried. Starting with these questions, he believes, will shape an effective system.

Michigan’s efforts reflect a growing trend in educational priorities across the United States. States such as Indiana, North Carolina, and Connecticut are also investing in statewide educational data solutions. As Michigan centralizes and modernizes its data infrastructure, it serves as a potential model for others aiming to achieve similar objectives. The ultimate goal is not merely to accumulate more data, but to derive better insights that facilitate proactive interventions, enhance equity, and support long-term planning.

“We’ll be able to learn together, which I think is the most powerful part of education,” Leisenring said. He envisions a future where states can collaborate and share insights, creating a comprehensive educational data storage solution for Michigan over the next five to ten years. As this initiative progresses, it could pave the way for other states to follow suit, showcasing the impact of centralized and actionable data in education.