Public Education Funding and Student Outcomes
The debate around public education funding and student outcomes is longstanding. In this blog, we discuss important background information on where SparkMap’s public education revenue and expenditure data comes from, what it covers, how it is linked to student outcomes over time, and how you can use SparkMap to dive into the link between public education expenditures and outcomes in your community.
Enhancing Data Literacy pt. 2: Interpreting Maps
Creating lasting change in your community is only possible when you have an accurate understanding of its strengths and needs. In other words, you need community-level data in order to determine outreach needs, pinpoint service areas, and identify areas in which your community already excels. We believe the best way to do this is through…
Data | Environment | Map Room
My World’s on Fire, How ‘Bout Yours?
In this blog, we highlight frequently updated wildfire and drought data layers. Whether or not your community is directly impacted by wildfire season or drought, our climate data can help you stay safe and spur positive community resilience.
Enhancing Data Literacy with SparkMap
At SparkMap, we’re passionate about impacting communities based on high-quality data. Since you’re here, you probably feel the same way. However, we know that understanding and applying data can be tricky. So, we’re starting a blog series dedicated to the foundations of data literacy. Through this blog series, we hope to empower you by enhancing…
The National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI)
The NCCPI is a robust and valuable dataset – learn more about it and how to access it on SparkMap.
W.E.B. Du Bois & Data Visualization History
In this blog we discuss history of data visualization with a particular focus on the fascinating work of W.E.B. Du Bois.
American Community Survey 2016-2020 data has arrived! Here’s what you need to know.
We have updated the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates on SparkMap! Read more about what the ACS is, what exactly has been updated on SparkMap, and how these changes impact you.
The Health, Environmental, and Economic Impacts of Commuting
Commuting to work has significant impacts on personal health, the environment, and the economy. Learn more with SparkMap data in this blog!
Advancing Demographics: Expanding Race and Ethnicity Measures in the US Census
The US Census Bureau has changed demographic questions in response to a changing country. Read more about how these changes reflect increased diversity of Americans, why these modifications matter.