From ‘professional development for data use’ to ‘data use for professional development’

•Data use is considered by many as a tool that leads to improved educational processes.•This special issue shifts focus to how educators can be supported to use data.•The aim is to inform this ‘professionalization’ debate, academically and practically.•This editorial introduces the nine papers of the special issues.•Conceptual, methodological and empirical lessons and implications are identified.