As courts increasingly rely on data to improve services and guide decision-making, the need for a data-literate workforce has never been greater. With support from the State Justice Institute, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) developed Data Literacy for Courts, a first-of-its-kind curriculum designed specifically for court professionals. The course equips the court workforce with practical skills in data quality, statistics, visualization, governance, ethics, and the data life cycle.
Piloted in Pennsylvania and Georgia, the curriculum was refined through collaboration with courts to ensure real-world relevance and impact. This evidence-based approach produced a scalable resource that is now offered nationally through NCSC’s education programs.
The project advances SJI priorities by promoting data-driven decision-making, supporting collaboration between court leaders and data professionals, and creating a sustainable workforce development model. NCSC highlighted the curriculum during its Data Dives webinar, Future-Ready Courts: Building a Data-Literate Workforce, where data literacy was presented as a response to a key vulnerability identified in the Future Ready Courts framework: a workforce that lacks the skills to effectively use data for decision-making. The webinar featured court practitioners, instructional resources, and a companion video illustrating how data literacy can strengthen transparency, innovation, and public trust.
“I can’t overstate the role of data in our world and the importance of having the skills to understand it.”
–Kelly McClain, Data Exchange Manager, Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System
The curriculum continues to grow in reach and impact. Following a live virtual national offering in August 2026, NCSC is adapting the curriculum to include an expanded data visualization program for Nevada courts.
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