School Districts’ Use of Talent Analytics: Barriers and Possibilities

In this commentary, we discuss common barriers districts face in implementing and using talent analytics (personnel data systems) to build a more effective, diverse pool of school leaders. Our discussion draws upon insights from a large national sample of school districts implementing principal pipelines. We find that district leaders and administrators expressed a need for up-to-date, informative data systems to realize their principal workforce goals but that these aspirations were hampered by the limitations of time, funding, expertise, and their own misgivings. We share possibilities for the improved use of talent analytics to increase transparency and equity in districts’ principal and educator workforce development.