Data are a critical component to state and local improvement efforts. At each stage of an improvement process—from planning, to formative reflections, to summative analyses—data provide insights that should inform decision making. When educators plan, they must use data to understand the current context and prioritize their improvement goals and corresponding strategies. When educators work to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in their improvement strategies, formative data can enlighten them as to whether course corrections should be made. Finally, when educators implement strategies over an extended period of time, data may be used to measure the longer-term impact of those strategies.

The AIR team works with clients at state and local levels to understand their improvement goals and to capitalize on their current processes for using data to drive improvement efforts. When needed, AIR develops supplemental processes, structures, and resources for enhancing data-driven improvement efforts. AIR also provides trainings at the state and local levels to support education systems better collect, analyze, understand, and apply the data needed to inform improvement.

RELATED WORK

Establishing and Sustaining Networked Improvement Communities: Lessons from Michigan and Minnesota

Defining the Problem

Data Review Tool

Root Cause Analysis Tool

Developing Measures

Survey Development

• Research Workshop Event slides
• Survey Planning Tool
• Survey Development Guidance Checklist
• Survey Planning Gantt Chart
• Writing Survey Items

Interviews and Focus Groups

• Research Workshop Event slides
• Activity 1: Write a focus group protocol
• Activity 2: Mock focus group

Interpreting the Data

Supporting Principals Using Teacher Effectiveness Data: Learning Module