The U.S. Department of Education has launched a web site providing convenient and transparent access to key national and state education data, highlighting the progress being made at every level of the education system and encouraging communities to engage in an informed conversation about their schools. This first version of the U.S. Education Dashboard (http://dashboard.ed.gov/) contains a set of 16 indicators, ranging from student participation in early learning through completion of postsecondary education, as well as indicators on teachers and leaders and equity. This version also includes a section which supplies data on whether subgroups are performing sufficiently. The interface allows users to easily find information they need and view it in several different ways. For example, on a single web page, those interested are able to view indicators of the nation’s performance in education, gauge their state’s progress, and see how their state is performing compared to other states. The interface also allows users to download customized reports for further analysis. The Department is committed to regularly updating the Dashboard’s data and to enhancing the tools on the web site. The Dashboard represents a comprehensive “go to” site for education data. The indicators will be updated as new information becomes available, and users are encouraged to send comments (to dashboard@ed.gov) so that usability and functionality can be improved.
