1. The Importance of Data-Based Decision Making
Chapter One:
The Importance of Data-Based Decision Making

2. Standards-Based Reform
National/International Legislated standards measurements: NCLB: No Child Left Behind. NAEP: National Assessment of Educational Progress. IAEP: International Assessment of Educational Progress. IEA: International Evaluation of Achievement.

3. Standards-Based Reform:
State Level Legislated standards
measurements:
State Assessments:
Core Testing
Reading Assessments
Writing Assessments
AP Exams
State Competitions
Other?

4. Content and Performance Standards
Content Standards: What should students know and be able to do?
Performance
Standards: How
well do students
know the content?

5. Curriculum Alignment:
Curriculum alignment: focusing teaching and instruction to match the priorities set forth by statewide standards.
What responsibilities does this create for
you as a future
school leader?
What experience do
You have with
curriculum
alignment
processes?

6. Assessment and Accountability:
NCLB: Every child in grades
3 – 8 tested yearly in reading,
Math, and science.
To what extent have
students mastered the
curriculum standards?
Disaggregated data by:
ethnic groups, LEP, low
Income, gender, disabilities.

7. Understanding the Data:
What data is currently available in your classroom?
How is that data used?
What data is currently
available in your school?
District?
State?
See sample pp. 11,12.

8. The Role of Professional Development:
School leaders play
A key role in planning
And delivering
professional
development to
teachers.
How does your
school provide DB
professional training?

9. Norm Referenced Scoring:
Norm Referenced Scoring: All students who test are compared against the ‘norm’ -- students are compared a spot on the continuum of the ‘curve’.
Ex: 80% score means that students performed at a level equal to or better than 80 out of 100 students tested. Multiple choice questions.
Widely used. Widely criticized. Inadequate measure of skill application.
Example Test Questions:
A blacksmith is someone who:
a. makes horseshoes
b. fixes pipes
c. builds houses
d. chops wood

10. Criterion Referenced Testing
Statewide Assessment: Developed at state level. Usually a closer ‘fit’ with curriculum taught. Valid within the state for which it was designed.
Criterion Referenced (a certain ‘criterion’ or ‘benchmark’ is set for mastery): Evaluates students on the basis of a specific performance standard. Number of students ‘passing’ measured by those that meet the criteria (70% passing, etc.) regardless of how many meet or surpass the performance standard.

11. Diagnostic Achievement Tests
Used to: (1) Pinpoint specific academic problems.
(2) Determine special education placements.
Wood-cock Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery
Key Math-Revised Inventory
Peabody Individual Achievement Test
Stanford Diagnostic Reading and Mathematics
Wide Range Achievement Test
Metropolitan Diagnostic (reading, math, language)
May include IQ: WIPPSI, WISK, WAIS

12. Statistical Measures in Testing
Measures of Central Tendency: mean, median, mode
Measure of Validity: standard deviation.
Standard Scores: raw scores transformed to a common scale.
Age-equivalent scores, Grade-equivalent scores.
Basals: Base line or initial testing
point for student. Where information
is easy enough for student.
Ceilings: Upper limit of test
administration. Where information
becomes too difficult for student.

13. Communicating Results w/ Parents
Maintain student privacy and confidentiality of records.
Focus on information as a place to begin making improvements, not ‘set in stone’.
Examine discrepancies between
various subtests and what is
actually taught in the classroom.
Understand how test is scored.
Be able to explain to parents.

14. Climate of Accountability:
External accountability:
Bureaucratic or political
accountability.
Market Accountability:
School choice programs;
vouchers, private /charter
schools.
Internal Accountability:
Inner school norms, goals,
decision-making,
assessments, etc.