Data Report or Treasure Chest? Using What You Have to Support Students

Get to Know NCHE The U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance and information center NCHE has: – A comprehensive website: – A toll-free helpline: Call or – A listserv: visit for subscription instructions – Free resources: Visit The U.S. Department of Education’s technical assistance and information center NCHE has: – A comprehensive website: – A toll-free helpline: Call or – A listserv: visit for subscription instructions – Free resources: Visit

Who’s in the room? How comfortable are you with data? Who’s in the room? How comfortable are you with data?

“I am a deep believer in the power of data to drive our decisions. Data gives us the road map to reform. It tells us where we are, where we need to go, and who is most at risk.” Arni Duncan “I am a deep believer in the power of data to drive our decisions. Data gives us the road map to reform. It tells us where we are, where we need to go, and who is most at risk.” Arni Duncan

McKinney-Vento data – Districts submit to SEAs – SEAs submit to US ED via ED Facts or CSPR – NCHE reviews data, creates national summary ESEA calls for collection, analysis, and use of student achievement data to improve school outcomes – Includes requirement for state report cards McKinney-Vento data – Districts submit to SEAs – SEAs submit to US ED via ED Facts or CSPR – NCHE reviews data, creates national summary ESEA calls for collection, analysis, and use of student achievement data to improve school outcomes – Includes requirement for state report cards

Find kids, get them in school Find kids, get them in school, count them Find kids, get them in school, count them, find out how they’re doing Find kids, get them in school, count them, find out how they’re doing, actively help them grow Find kids, get them in school Find kids, get them in school, count them Find kids, get them in school, count them, find out how they’re doing Find kids, get them in school, count them, find out how they’re doing, actively help them grow

Where are you in the data evolution? What access do you have to data? Do you know who your players are? What do you want to know? Where are you in the data evolution? What access do you have to data? Do you know who your players are? What do you want to know?

Develop a plan – Identify your questions – Can change over time, but establish a direction – Do your research – Make your ask concrete Develop a plan – Identify your questions – Can change over time, but establish a direction – Do your research – Make your ask concrete

Count of students, by grade & housing Diversity of HCY population Where the students are State testing performance Special populations overview Count of students, by grade & housing Diversity of HCY population Where the students are State testing performance Special populations overview

Must compare the outcomes for homeless students to other student populations for true depth of growth and challenges – Gives new meaning to data – You can mix and match based on your needs assessment and priorities Must compare the outcomes for homeless students to other student populations for true depth of growth and challenges – Gives new meaning to data – You can mix and match based on your needs assessment and priorities

Graduation rates Special Education rates Gifted and Talented Suspensions Graduation rates Special Education rates Gifted and Talented Suspensions

Graduation Rate by Subpopulation

Percent Students in Gifted & Talented

Percent Students IDEA

Percent of Students that Received a Suspension

Qualitative does have its place – Can be harder to collect, analyze – Can tell you the story behind the numbers – What opportunities do you have to gather it – How can you make it reasonably standardized Qualitative does have its place – Can be harder to collect, analyze – Can tell you the story behind the numbers – What opportunities do you have to gather it – How can you make it reasonably standardized

Consider requiring liaison verification Consider tracking large changes Consider comparison groups like free lunch, employment rates, census data Consider n size: small group sizes skew Consider requiring liaison verification Consider tracking large changes Consider comparison groups like free lunch, employment rates, census data Consider n size: small group sizes skew

Golden Rule: ALWAYS be nice to the data people Find reasons or ways to do things for them – Review guidance, help train, field questions Be mindful of their timelines Find ways to help assure quality Golden Rule: ALWAYS be nice to the data people Find reasons or ways to do things for them – Review guidance, help train, field questions Be mindful of their timelines Find ways to help assure quality

When deciding what to look at, consider format for final report Explain your findings When deciding what to look at, consider format for final report Explain your findings

Data…"can basically take us out of the dark ages of just kinda teaching and hoping, which is what a lot of folks have done for a very long time. A lot of teachers have taught their hearts out and don't have a good way of telling who's learning what and what's working and what's not.“ Katie Haycock, Education Trust Data…"can basically take us out of the dark ages of just kinda teaching and hoping, which is what a lot of folks have done for a very long time. A lot of teachers have taught their hearts out and don't have a good way of telling who's learning what and what's working and what's not.“ Katie Haycock, Education Trust

Christina Endres Beth Hartness Data Collection Information Christina Endres Beth Hartness Data Collection Information