Michigan Launches Data Lake to Transform Educational Insights

The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) is developing a new, cloud-native data lake aimed at enhancing educational outcomes across the state. This initiative seeks to provide a unified, secure platform that supports students from prenatal stages through to workforce readiness. In July 2025, MAISA received an AWS Award for its innovative approach to transforming Michigan’s education data architecture. The existing data hub, operational since 2013, has standardized key data across various school districts but faced significant limitations.

These limitations hindered the ability to scale the system for statewide use, integrate advanced tools like artificial intelligence, and connect disparate district systems. The new data lake is designed to address these challenges, allowing schools to transition from reactive to proactive strategies, ultimately improving educational outcomes across diverse regions and student demographics.

Addressing Fragmented Systems

According to Tammy Evans, project development director for MAISA’s Michigan IT, the need for a comprehensive redeployment of educational data systems became clear due to barriers preventing actionable insights. In the spring of 2024, her team conducted a survey that revealed the fragmented nature of current data systems and the restrictions limiting districts’ abilities to leverage their data fully.

“In this initiative, what we were trying to do was modernize the way in which we could gather structured and unstructured data into a statewide platform,” Evans stated. “We wanted to give our educators and students a more accurate reflection of everything.”

The initiative is still in its early stages, with plans to begin implementation in approximately 100 of the state’s 875 school districts. This pilot program is set to launch during the last week of August 2025, serving as a proof of concept before potential expansion.

Focus on Educators and Effective Implementation

While the new data lake holds promise, experts caution that technology alone will not guarantee improved educational outcomes. According to Doug Leisenring, project director for Michigan Data Lake, effective training, thoughtful implementation, and ongoing support for educators are critical components of this initiative. He emphasized the importance of incorporating teachers’ needs into the design of the system.

“How do we get data to the classroom to improve instruction for kids? What do your teachers need? What is the information your teachers need to improve instruction?” Leisenring asked. “When you start with those questions as your baseline, if you focus on the classroom, the systems will follow.”

This focus on educators aligns with a broader trend seen across the United States, where several states, including Indiana, North Carolina, and Connecticut, are also investing in statewide educational data solutions. Michigan’s approach serves as a potential model for other states looking to centralize and modernize their educational data systems.

The overarching goal is not just to accumulate more information but to provide better insights that can facilitate proactive interventions, enhance equity, and support long-term planning. “While we’re nowhere near this now, in five to 10 years, the long-term goal is to have one data storage solution for the educational system of Michigan,” Leisenring indicated. “Other states will be able to learn from that.”

As Michigan embarks on this transformative journey, the collaborative sharing of knowledge among states could pave the way for a new era in educational data management, ultimately benefiting students and educators alike.