CROSS CUTTING ISSUES

Data

Good decision making and management requires good, consistent and unbiased data. Well-designed data collection and analysis aligned across the educational system can help to identity strengths and weaknesses, set effective plans and goals, and check whether goals and standards have been met; they are essential for maintaining accountability. Data may, for example, be about achievement, instruction, perceptions or student demographics. It may be used in forecasting and planning, and to guide interventions for individual students as well as resource use for schools, professional development, curriculum and other areas.

"Effective use of data by educators and their community will change how they respond to accountability demands. When timely and useful data are available to educators, and effective interventions are at their fingertips, the focus of accountability can move toward 'fixing the problem' rather than 'fixing the blame.'" (Education Commission of the States; see second entry)

• California's Student Data System: In Need of Improvement. Importance of a system that tracks student progress, keeps accurate records, allows evaluation of effectiveness, while protecting students' privacy (4 page PDF file; EdSource Online)
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Data systems can increase school effectiveness. Reports exemplary practices from California and other states (4 page PDF file; Education Commission of the States)
• California School Information Services (CSIS): A system of data collection and management that provides a basis for accountability and use of standards (2 page PDF file; EdSource Online)
• California School Information Services (CSIS) to inform decision making. Overview and budget analysis (Legislative Analyst's Office)
• State Information Systems: New ESEA requirements present opportunities to improve usability (8 page PDF file; Education Commission of the States)
• Use of data for decision making and school improvement: Case studies in five states including California on factors, conditions and policies that support this practice, with policy recommendations (Education Commission of the States)
• Using Data for School Improvement: Lessons from disadvantaged schools on making good use of data (58 page PDF file; Annenberg Institute for School Reform)

Related Issues:

Data is related to many of the topics in the Master Plan; the links below lead to pages on this site that give more information in selected areas.

• Accountability
• Assessment
• ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act)

If your organization has material that would be useful for the online dialogue but is not included in the preceding list, please e-mail a URL to <camp-info@network-democracy.org>.