Data plays a starring role in promoting educational equity, and data-driven decision making begins with good state policies. With the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and a proposed federal rule to address racial disproportionality in special education, states will shoulder increased responsibility for eliminating educational inequities. ESSA and the proposed federal rule implementing IDEA raise the profile of education data. These changes present new opportunities to improve how schools serve the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students. State leaders must be prepared to devise and implement accountability systems, academic standards, and assessments, which data will fuel. With accurate data, states and districts can focus time and resources on interventions with the highest likely impact on student success.