Chapter One THE IMPORTANCE OF DATABASED DECISION MAKING
Chapter One: THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA-BASED DECISION MAKING
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.
Standards-Based Reform: State Level Legislated standards measurements: �State Assessments: �Core Testing �Reading Assessments �Writing Assessments �AP Exams �State Competitions �Other?
Content and Performance Standards �Content Standards: What should students know and be able to do? �Performance Standards: How well do students know the content?
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?
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.
Understanding the Data: �What data is currently available in your classroom? �How is that data used? �What data is currently �available in your school? �How is that data used? �District? �State? �See sample pp. 11, 12.
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?
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
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.
Diagnostic Achievement Tests Used to: (1) Pinpoint specific academic problems. (2) Determine special education placements. 1. Wood-cock Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery 2. Key Math-Revised Inventory 3. Peabody Individual Achievement Test 4. Stanford Diagnostic Reading and Mathematics 5. Wide Range Achievement Test 6. Metropolitan Diagnostic (reading, math, language) 7. May include IQ: WIPPSI, WISK, WAIS
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.
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.
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.
References: �Goldring, E. , Berends, M. (2009). Leading with Data: Pathways to improve your school. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
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