NCES Data Use Project

NCES Data Use Project Goal Help inform states and districts’ efforts to provide effective decision support systems to schools and classrooms designed to support improving student outcomes Addressing needs expressed by states and districts

Current Activities Understand Review of literature Data use in schools Frameworks for data use Research on data use Review of literature Conversations with experts Researchers Education organizations Practitioners

Data Use Today Data collection surpasses analysis and use Schools develop and use own systems Barriers vs. facilitators to data use Research on effective data use beginning Promising practices on the rise Data Collection Activities Expanding States continue to expand data collection True longitudinal data systems exist Increased potential for data use Local DSS Systems Implemented Home grown and off-the-shelf Smaller and less funded districts less likely to have DSS Typically do not draw on state longitudinal data systems Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) increases compatibility between parties Systems vary in content and use Data Use Barriers vs. Facilitators Purposeful and accessible data Support systems Analytic capacity Models for translating raw data into information and then into decisions Research on Effective Data Use Evaluations of data uses in early stages Research on all aspects of data use increasing New projects on data being funded Promising Practices Innovation by districts and states Increased attention on data use New studies highlight promising practices

Upcoming Department of Education Publications Institute of Education Sciences Practice Guide Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development Use of Education Data at the Local Level: From Accountability to Instructional Improvement Supporting Teachers’ Ability to Use Data to Inform Instruction Subscribe to IES updates via e-mail ies.ed.gov/newsflash/

Fall 2009 Activities Identify what additional information would help increase effective data use Identify and disseminate promising practices Questions to be answered with data Data content Data delivery format Data use supports and infrastructure Data informed decision making

Questions or Comments? Kashka Kubzdela Telephone: (202) 502-7411 National Center for Education Statistics U.S. Department of Education 1990 K Street, NW Room 9014 Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: (202) 502-7411 Email: Kashka.Kubzdela@ed.gov Sandy Eyster Education Statistics Services Institute American Institutes of Research 1990 K Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: (202) 403-6149 Email: seyster@air.org