Best Practices for Data-Based Decision-Making

Heather ZavadskyBuilding State Capacity and Productivity

Center

Why Data-Based Decision-Making?Student achievement cannot improve without data (all types), because data is the pathway to prevention and appropriate intervention. Better to have diagnostics rather than an

autopsy Should be used for all education decision-making Should be closely connected to teaching and

learning in the classroom Involves data, interpretation, analysis, and

intervention.

Data Is critical for answering many important questions What is the best school for my child? How can I ensure my students are mastering the correct

skills? What is the best intervention for my struggling readers? What are the strengths and weaknesses of my teachers? How shall we invest our professional development

dollars? Are our students college-and career-ready? How many of our students take remedial courses in

college? Where should we invest our instructional dollars? Which schools need the most support?

What Districts Can Provide

Powerful accessible data systems Various data collection tools An accountability tool or strategy

to manage all the data pieces Time to examine and discuss data

collaboratively A culture of trust and transparency

that values data

What Can States Provide? Access to timely, user-friendly data Data-sharing orientation (within FERPA) Training on how to gather, analyze, and use

data Avenue for rural leaders to weigh in on

policy decisions Examples of supportive problem-solving

approaches using data

Considerations What type of data can educators access in

your state and district? How soon do they receive it? How can educators and legislators access

data? How is data used and reported? How does pushback on testing and data

privacy impact data-use in your state and districts?

How does your state and district continuously monitor progress?