Ellen Mandinach

Overview

Ellen Mandinach is an internationally recognized expert in data-driven decision-making with a focus on data literacy and data ethics. As a senior research scientist, Mandinach has developed the constructs—data literacy for teachers and culturally responsive data literacy—that lay out the skills, knowledge, and dispositions educators need to use data effectively and responsively.

Mandinach’s theoretical and research contributions have been widely cited and serve as a foundation for much of the ongoing research and development to help educators learn to use data not only effectively but responsibly. The intent of this work is to inform policymakers and practitioners about the importance of integrating data literacy into educator preparation programs and inservice training so current and future educators are data literate and data use becomes enculturated in all schools and districts. 

Prior to joining WestEd, Mandinach was the research director at the Educational Development Center’s Center for Children and Technology where she began working on issues around data-driven decision-making, examining the systemic impact of technology and culture on data use. Mandinach was a senior research scientist at CNA Education and at Educational Testing Service, where she began her career. Mandinach’s research strives to discern the systemic issues around improving education for students and educators. 

Education

• PhD in educational psychology, Stanford University 
• AB in psychology, Smith College

Select Publications

Mandinach, E. B. (2025). Culturally responsive data literacy: An important construct for all educators. Rowman & Littlefield. 

National Forum on Educational Statistics. (2024). Forum guide to data literacy (NFES 2024-079). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. 

Mandinach, E. B., Jimerson, J. B., Siegl, J., & Sallay, D. (2023). Student privacy primer for school leaders. Future for Privacy Forum and WestEd. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Cotto, J. (2021, October). The case for including data privacy and data ethics in educator preparation programs. Washington, DC: Future for Privacy Forum. https://studentprivacycompass.org/resource/case-data-privacy-ethics/ 

Mandinach, E. B., & Gummer, E. S. (Eds.). (2021). The ethical use of data in education: Promoting responsible policies and practices. Teachers College Press. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Jimerson, J. B. (2021). Data ethics in education: A theoretical, practical, and policy issue. Studia Paedagogica, 26(4), 9–26. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Schildkamp, K. (2021). Misconceptions about data-based decision making in education: An exploration of the literature. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 69, 1–10. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Gummer, E. S. (2016). Data literacy for educators: Making it count in teacher preparation and practice. Teachers College Press. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Gummer, E. S. (2016). What does it mean for teachers to be data literate: Laying out the skills, knowledge, and dispositions. Teaching and Teacher Education, 60, 366–376. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Jimerson, J. B. (2016). Teachers learning how to use data: A synthesis of the issues and what is known. Teaching and Teacher Education, 60, 452–457. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Lash, A. A. (2016). Assessment illuminating pathways to learning. In L. Corno & E. Anderman (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (3rd ed., pp. 390–401). Routledge. 

Mandinach, E. B., & Gummer, E. S. (2013). A systemic view of implementing data literacy into educator preparation. Educational Researcher, 42(1), 30–37.

Honors, Awards, and Affiliations

Fellow of the American Educational Research Association 

Fellow of the American Psychological Association 

Panel member for the NCES Forum Guide to Data Literacy 

Panel member and coauthor of the IES Practice Guide on data use 

The Paul D. Hood Award (WestEd) 

Research Scientist Award (Educational Testing Service) 

Technical working group member on the use of the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems for research 

Vice President of the Educational Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association 

Recent Media Appearances

• Data privacy: Rights and wrongs, NAESP Principal Magazine, January/February 2024.
• AERA Scholar Spotlight—Dr. Ellen Mandinach, AERA Data-Driven Decision Making in Education SIG, March 2022.
• What do teachers know about student privacy? Not enough, researchers say, EdSurge, October 2021.