Rethinking a School District's Approach to Using Data as a Means to Guide Classroom

Instruction

Dr. Bart Rocco, Superintendent Dr. Todd Keruskin, Assistant

Superintendent

Our Journey…

Elizabeth Forward Challenges…

Challenges We Faced:

• School Board Support

• Data Rich but Information Poor

• Lack of Teacher Ownership of the Data

• “Hit and Run” Professional Development

• Deficient Curricular Alignment

• Inadequate Teacher Supervision

• “Everyone Was Flicking Their Own Bic” Inside the Classrooms

• Culture that Didn’t Support Teacher Leadership/Risk-taking

• Faculty Meeting for “Housekeeping” Only

Elizabeth Forward First Steps…

• Reviewed PSSA/4Sight/DIBELS/Terra Nova Data/AP/SAT/ACT

• Reviewed Old Curriculum Tool – Learning Focus Toolbox

• Created…• Assessment Calendar• Professional Development Plan• Data Teams – Elementary, Middle and High Schools• Teacher Supervision Model

• Partnership with University of Pittsburgh (PSDI)

• Purchased EdInsight Data Analysis & Curriculum Tools

• Assessment Calendar

Our Journey Continues…

• Created Data Teams – Year 1 & Year 2• Created Reading Teams • Reviewed PSSA Data with Teachers • Reviewed Scope and Sequence with Teachers• Reviewed PA Standards and Assessment Anchors with Teachers• Created Benchmark Assessments

• 9-Weeks Exams• Uploading Results into EdInsight Data Tool• Analyzing Benchmark Results with Teachers – Best Practices… • Review and Revise Benchmark Assessments• Keystone Exams• District Stories…

• Teacher Academies – Professional Development focusing on the New Data Analysis Tool – EdInsight

Elizabeth Forward Journey…

Meeting the Challenge:

6 MAJOR AREAS:

• DATA ANALYSIS

• CURRICULUM

• TEACHER SUPERVISION

• BEST PRACTICES – Instructional Practices

• BEST PRACTICES – Supervision Practices

• WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS?

Elizabeth Forward Journey…

DATA ANALYSIS:• District purchased EdInsight/OnHands• Assembled and trained data team• Conducted professional development session

(faculty meetings, teacher academies, team meetings, in-service days) around the use of the EdInsight tool to look at PSSA and 4Sight data.

• Collaborated with the Partnership for School District Improvement on data analysis (PSSA, 4Sights, Adopt An Anchor) (math protractor example)

• Implemented a PSSA intervention block• Thorough Special Ed data review (IEP’s,

placement, schedules, curriculum)

Elizabeth Forward Journey…

CURRICULUM:• Reviewed Data – PSSA/4Sight/Terra Nova• Reviewed Eligible Content – PA Standards/Anchors• Reviewed Benchmark Assessments• Created Units/Topics per Grade Level and Subject• Uploading Curriculum and Learning Activities• Future – Lesson Plans using EdInsight

• Special Ed Review (Read 180, Academic Interventions, Co-Teaching and programs)

• Curriculum Coaches• Curricular Alignment (LA, math)• Developed Benchmark Assessments (LA, math)• OnHands Curriculum Writing (We owned it together)

Elizabeth Forward Journey…

TEACHER SUPERVISION:• Walkthrough model• Observation process (conferencing, teacher

reflection, 4 domains)• High visibility

“Walk the talk” BEST PRACTICES:• Math (effective questioning, math talk)• Reading in the Content Area (reading strategies)• Introduction of an Instructional Model (learning

targets)

Elizabeth Forward Journey…

Best Practices for Administrators:• Principals Academy through the University of

Pittsburgh• OnHands Training – Observations and Post-

Conferences• Dr. Otto Graf – Training Sessions• California University of Pennsylvania • Walkthroughs – Team of Administrators• Administrative Meetings – Focus on Supervision

Elizabeth Forward Journey…

What is Best for Students?• Richness of Curriculum…• Critical Thinkers…• Problem Solvers…• Team Work…• Civic Engagement…

PSSa Data…

Met all AYP Targets for the 2009-2010 School Year

• Grade 3-5 Grade Span:• Math: 92.1% -- An increase of 3% • Reading: 82% -- An increase of 5%

• Grade 6-8 Grade Span:• Math: 84.2% -- An increase of 3%• Reading: 79.4% -- An increase of 5%

• Grade 9-12 Grade Span:• Math: 68.3% -- An increase of 11%• Reading: 74.6% -- An increase of 9%

This School Year…

• Data/Best Practices

• Data Teams & Curriculum Coaches

• On-Line Professional Library – Podcasts Around Best Practices

• Middle School – Power Block (Interventions)

• Benchmark Assessments – EdInsight Assessment Builder