Developing open school data policies: Basic principles

The  term  ‘Open  school  data’  refers  to  all  information  about  school  inputs,  processes,  and/or  outputs that are shared with the general public.Open school data (OSD) are primary data, disaggregated at school level, which allow school inputs, processes, and/or outputs to be quantified. They cover, for instance, school budgets; student enrolment; teacher numbers, qualifications, and attendance; pupil/teacher ratios; condition of school facilities; textbook availability; and student test results. They are shared with the general public, in either paper or electronic format. To be useful, however, they need to be relevant, comprehensive, accurate, timely, accessible, and free of charge.

To  help  decision-makers  and  educational  planners  and  managers  take  informed  decisions  regarding the development of open school data policies, eight key principles should be applied:

1. Designing OSD as part of the school planning cycle

2. Promoting accountability at the core of OSD

3. Giving priority to data that can drive positive change

4. Considering OSD as a public good, building on EMIS

5. Presenting and sharing data in multiple, creative ways

6. Ensuring that the public know how to use OSD

7. Making OSD 'actionable'

8. Addressing ethical risks up-frontf