A Date with Data

A Date with Data

by IDEA Data
Education
Season 1
Expanding Their Range: Nevada Scales Up Data Processes
A state known for its majestic mountain ranges, Nevada is certainly no stranger to sky-high achievements. Take, for example, the state’s recent efforts to more thoroughly document its data processes, a journey that also improved communications with LEAs, strengthened cross-office collaboration, and helped build productive relationships between SEA and LEA staff. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman joins the Nevada Department of Education’s Katherine Fuselier, Kathryn Butler, and Sheri Haggerty for an uplifting progress update, including the role played by IDC TA providers and our very own SEA Data Processes Toolkit.
S1 · E77
Jun 11, 2026
27:05
Artificial Intelligence, Genuine Results: West Virginia’s Approach to AI
These days, it seems like artificial intelligence is everywhere, but how is it actually being used in special education data work? How are experts in the field applying this new technology to enhance, not replace, subject matter expertise? In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Jonathan Shank, Part B data manager at the West Virginia Department of Education, to talk about how the state harnessed AI as a practical tool to support special education data tasks like drafting data notes, analyzing findings, and developing training materials. Now, that’s intelligent.
S1 · E76
May 14, 2026
29:52
A Date with Data Extra: On the Case with CASE
From building data literacy to using data more effectively in decision making and beyond, the job of improving local data quality requires many hands. In our newest special episode of A Date with Data Extra, guest host Tammy Williams teams up with Zabrina Cannady of the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE) to chat about all the ways IDC and CASE have come together to help special education leaders at the state and local levels strengthen their data and create better outcomes for students with disabilities.
S1 · E75
Apr 23, 2026
15:31
A Disciplined Approach: Strategies for Developing More Meaningful Discipline Data
When it comes to collecting and using discipline data, state staff face a number of important tasks. Foremost, perhaps, is making sure those data accurately reflect the lived experiences of students in the classroom in a way that leads to improved outcomes. So what's our disciplined approach? In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman is joined by Kent McIntosh, co-director of the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and IDC’s own Heather Reynolds to talk about strategies for improving the crucial process of collecting, analyzing, reporting, and using high-quality discipline data.
S1 · E74
Apr 9, 2026
18:05
Not Just Numbers: South Carolina’s Student-Centered Data Strategy
These data aren’t just numbers; they’re students. This powerful message from IDC’s Interactive Institute inspired the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) to focus on the quality of their local data. With assistance from IDC, the state planned a two-day retreat where LEA leaders could focus on building their capacity to use and truly understand their data. On this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman talks with SCDE’s Lisa McCliment and Sandra Garner about the process and the outcomes of helping LEAs spend time understanding their data and the students behind those numbers.
S1 · E73
Mar 12, 2026
28:10
Mass Effect: Supporting LEA Determinations in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a state of firsts. The first public library in the United States. The first university. Even the first public park. It should come as no surprise then that state education staff in the Bay State are hard at work pioneering new solutions to complex LEA Determinations. On this latest episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Jamie Camacho, State Director of Special Education from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Greg Tobey, IDEA Data Supervisor, and David Lowe from SPED Strategies, to discuss the tools and resources the Massachusetts DOE makes available to support districts with this important process.
S1 · E72
Feb 12, 2026
27:46
Parents Matter: Building Parent Survey Participation in Georgia
Among stakeholder groups, parents occupy a place of special significance. To increase their communication and collaboration with the parents and families of students with disabilities, the Georgia Department of Education is taking steps to build parent survey participation and representativeness. How are they doing so? And what are the results so far? Join host Amy Bitterman and her special guests Dominique Donaldson and Carol Sprague to learn more about how Georgia is using data-driven decision making to strengthen the involvement of this all-important stakeholder group.
S1 · E71
Jan 8, 2026
20:26
Delaware’s Data Dialogue, Part 2: From Data Retreats to Lasting Results
What does it look like when LEAs turn conversation into action? In Delaware, it starts with time, trust, and a clear plan. In the second installment of this two-part series, host Amy Bitterman continues her conversation with Dale Matusevich, Robert Sabolcik, and Barbara Mazza from the Delaware Department of Education—this time diving into real examples of the impact of the state's data retreats on local data quality. Join us to hear the end of the conversation and discover how collaboration and consistency can transform IDEA data quality, helping to drive meaningful progress for students with disabilities.
S1 · E70
Dec 11, 2025
11:33
Delaware’s Data Dialogue, Part 1: A Cooperative Strategy for LEA Engagement
What does it really take to build LEA capacity for high-quality IDEA data use? In Delaware, the answer starts with collaboration, communication, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all students. In the first of this two-part series, host Amy Bitterman sits down with Dale Matusevich, Robert Sabolcik, and Barbara Mazza from the Delaware Department of Education to explore how their team is reframing data conversations with LEAs, hosting data retreats, and leveraging tools like Power BI to support more meaningful data use and lasting system-wide improvement.
S1 · E69
Nov 13, 2025
19:44
Not-So-Secret Code: Cracking SPP/APR Submission Success in Nebraska
What’s the secret to submitting a high-quality, timely, accurate SPP/APR? Nebraska may have cracked the code. In this episode of A Date with Data, host Amy Bitterman talks with Amy Rhone and Jamie Chambers from the Nebraska Department of Education about their comprehensive SPP/APR Indicator Tracking Sheet, a collaborative tool that transformed how Nebraska’s SPP/APR team communicates and organizes their indicator data to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Join us to discover how Nebraska’s not-so-secret tool has helped them unlock greater accuracy, intentionality, and continuous improvement in their SPP/APR submission.
S1 · E68
Oct 9, 2025
18:45
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