Data+Collection

One of the most significant and initial things a leader can do is to SHOW teachers and staff how looking at data will help guide decision making effectively. Sometimes assumptions are made that test scores are reported and everyone knows how to use the information from that point. To the contrary, many teachers and staff members look at testing data as only an evaluative tool, a report card of types, that give a summative proclamation on how good a school and the students are.

We need a paradigm shift to assist teachers and decision makers to realize that test data can be used as a formative instrument as well, and that by doing so, the data becomes much more powerful. In the case of PSSAs, data and information can be disaggregated on a great variety of levels and discussion points. We can drill down to find out which groups and subgroups of students at the district and individual building level are performing in certain ways. From there we can adjust decisions and instruction to address needs, enhance and augment strengths, and substantiate to the board using data the rationale behind our decisions.

Groups that should meet and discuss data and resultant decisions: Types of data to discuss and collect:
 * Building staff-wide
 * Departmental
 * Grade level
 * Team level (middle school teaming)
 * Administrative Teams
 * Cabinet
 * Executive Sessions with School Board
 * Demographics of students
 * Student Achievement from state/national tests
 * Student Achievement from departmental placement testings and end of semester/year exams
 * AP Test results
 * Student Achievement from common assessments (both formative and summative)

It should be noted that with the RtII (Response to Intervention and Instruction) initiative, Data Team meetings will be a mandatory part of the process.