3 Stackable Data LIteracy Certificates + MEd in Data Literacy Education
Graduate Certificate
Quick Facts
Fully Online | 7.5 week courses | Designed for Working Educators
What is Data Literacy?
The ability to transform information into actionable instructional knowledge—by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to make informed decisions that improve student outcomes.
Why it matters:
- Schools have more data than ever, but most educators haven't been trained to take it beyond the basics
- Education is an evidence-based profession—data literacy is no longer optional
- Knowing HOW to use data (not just having it) is what creates equity and improves learning
- Already have data literacy basics covered in your district? Our certificates are designed for educators ready to go further — to take you from using data to leading with it.
Why Our Certificates Are Different:
Many districts already offer valuable foundational data training for teachers and staff. But there's a gap at the next level: turning data insight into formal evaluation, research, grant writing, and policy influence. Education is becoming an evidence-based profession — and district leaders, coaches, and aspiring policy voices need training that goes beyond dashboards and PD days.
Program Features:
✓ Fully online. Built around your schedule, wherever you are.
✓ Flexible pathways. Earn certificates one at a time or stack them toward the full MEd.
✓ Real Arizona data. You'll work with actual K-12 datasets from state and district sources, not hypotheticals.
✓ 7.5-week courses. Shorter sessions mean you finish faster and keep momentum. Most folks complete a certificate in just 3 sessions!
✓ Built for advancement. Designed for educators who already understand the basics — you'll leave able to write grants, draft policy briefs, lead PD for colleagues, and advise district or state decision-makers.
Join our email list for program updates, enrollment information, course launches, and opportunities to get involved as we build Arizona's first comprehensive data literacy program for educators. We'll keep you updated as we move through the approval process!
Data Literacy in Education Graduate Certificates
Evaluation Literacy Graduate Certificate (9 units)
What you can do with this certificate:
- Design evaluation studies for district-wide programs and multi-school initiatives
- Collect and analyze data across multiple sites and organizational leve
- Work with Arizona district and state data systems for authentic evaluation projects
- Communicate evaluation findings effectively to school boards, district leadership, and community stakeholders
- Assess the effectiveness of district accountability systems and systems-level improvement efforts
- Write program evaluation reports and white papers suitable for school board or state-level review
- Draft grant proposals and evaluation plans for district-wide initiatives
Primary Faculty:
- Dr, Adriana Cimetta, Center for Educational Assessment, Research & Evaluation
Courses:
- EDP 582a: Educational Evaluation
- EDP 682: Advanced Educational Evaluation
- EDP 588: Independent Study
Data-Based Decision Making Certificate (9 credits)
:: Expected Launch: Spring 2027 ::
What you can do do with this certificate:
- Distinguish high-quality from problematic data in classroom assessment and progress monitoring tools
- Use AI-powered learning platforms and data dashboards effectively in your daily teaching practice
- Apply culturally responsive approaches to classroom-level instructional decisions
- Work with student-level data to monitor progress and adjust instruction
- Navigate classroom data systems with equity and ethics at the center of your practice
- Lead professional development for colleagues on data-informed instructional practice
Currently Affiliated Faculty:
Courses:
- TLS 547: Data Literacy
- TLS 647: Advanced Data Literacy
- HED 5XX: Culturally Responsive Data Use
Research Literacy Certificate (10 units)
:: Expected Launch: Summer 2027::
What you can do with this certificate:
- Analyze assessment data across classrooms and grade levels to identify program-level patterns and trends
- Distinguish rigorous research from weak studies and evaluate evidence quality for instructional decisions
- Apply descriptive and inferential statistics to understand school and program outcomes
- Translate research findings into actionable insights for instructional teams and department-level planning
- Understand what standardized assessments and program data actually reveal about student learning
- Translate research and data findings into policy briefs or formal recommendations for district or state decision-makers (e.g., Arizona Department of Education)
Currently Affiliated Faculty:
Courses:
- EDP 541 A & B (2 credits each for a total of 4 credits): Introduction to Statistics in Education
- EDP 558a: Educational Tests and Measurements
- EDP 520: Design and Application of Qualitative Research in Education
START YOUR DATA LITERACY JOURNEY NOW
Can't wait for full program approval? You don't have to. Evaluation Literacy courses launch Fall 2026 - and you can enroll now as a non-degree seeking student. Here's how it works:
- New students: Apply as an NDS student or apply to any graduate program and add the certificate to your planned courses
- Current UA grad students: Enroll directly in our courses via the Shopping Cart
- Be sure to reach out to our Program Director as well, so they can be sure to support your journey!
- Questions? Contact Dr. Brandy Perkl