Building Data Wisdom and Governance in Schools for Evidence-Informed Educational Improvement

Funder: European Commission

Call: Digital education: Innovative data collection and exchange approaches in primary, secondary education (including vocational education and training) for data-informed decision-making (European Commission)

Of European scope.

SCHOOLWISE addresses fragmentation in European educational data practices by developing a comprehensive framework for responsible data use in primary and secondary schools. The project pursues four objectives: (1) Create an integrated educational data literacy framework; (2) Establish ethical governance models ensuring GDPR and AI Act compliance; (3) Develop cross-border data governance policies; (4) Build sustainable institutional capacities for ethical data collection. These objectives support the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 and Erasmus+ priorities for digital transformation and reducing learning disadvantages. The project employs the Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom (DIKW) framework, providing a progressive pathway from raw data collection to evidence-informed practice. SCHOOLWISE integrates technical standards, pedagogical applications, governance structures, and ethical frameworks through collaborative stakeholder research. The human-centered approach ensures European regulatory compliance while empowering educators to transform data into actionable insights. Led by CNR, the 36-month project operates across six work packages: framework development, toolkit co-design, pilot implementation in Italy, Germany, Spain, and Belgium, evaluation, and dissemination. The consortium unites leading European universities in Learning Analytics with ESHA's network of 120,000 school leaders, privacy experts, and educational practitioners. SCHOOLWISE will deliver the SEDaL Educational Data Literacy Framework, governance protocols, implementation toolkits, and training programs validated through real-world pilots. The project establishes the European SCHOOLWISE Network and Observatory on Ethical Educational Data Use, ensuring sustainability. Results will enhance data-informed decision-making across European education systems, supporting evidence-based improvements in teaching quality, student outcomes, and educational equity.