In a context where schools are held more and more accountable for the education they provide, data-based decision making has become increasingly important. This book brings together scholars from several countries to examine data-based decision making. Data-based decision making in this book refers to making decisions based on a broad range of evidence, such as scores on students’ assessments, classroom observations etc. This book supports policy-makers, people working with schools, researchers and school leaders and teachers in the use of data, by bringing together the current research conducted on data use across multiple countries into a single volume. Some of these studies are ‘best practice’ studies, where effective data use has led to improvements in student learning. Others provide insight into challenges in both policy and practice environments. Each of them draws on research and literature in the field.

"Gathering data and using it to inform instruction is a requirement for many schools, yet educators are not necessarily formally trained in how to do it. This book helps bridge the gap between classroom practice and the principles of educational psychology. Teachers will find cutting-edge advances in research and theory on human learning and teaching in an easily understood and transferable format. The text's integrated model shows teachers, school leaders, and district administrators how to establish a data culture and transform quantitative and qualitative data into actionable knowledge based on: assessment; statistics; instructional and differentiated psychology; classroom management."--Publisher's description.

This workbook will serve as your guide to incorporating the data-driven decision making process into your organization’s culture and behavior. O’Neal leads you through setting up teams; warehousing, accessing, and examining data; and finally reflecting on your process. Understand what’s happening in your school environment and how you can make better decisions that will keep you on a path to success.

Brief ContentsPrefacePrologue Concepts and Foundations of Data-Driven Decision Making Introduction to Data-Driven Decision Making Planning and Developing Information Resources Hardware, Software, and People Educational Research Methods and Tools Teachers and Administrators as Researchers Basic Applications Student Data, Demographics, and Enrollments School and the Community Financial Management and Budgeting Supporting Teaching and Learning Supporting Teachers and Their Professional Development Technical Support Review of Statistical Routines Used in this Book Introduction to Spreadsheet Software Introduction to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Database Management Terms and Sample Outline Internet Resources for Data-Driven Decision MakingGlossaryIndex Contents PrefacePrologue Concepts and Foundations of Data-Driven Decision Making Introduction to Data-Driven Decision Making Rationale for Adopting Data-Driven Decision Making Purpose of This Book Defining Data-Driven Decision Making An Old Idea: Knowledge Is Power Need for Planning The Systems Approach Organization of This Book SummaryReferences Planning and Developing Information Resources School Districts Take the Lead Defining Information Needs Database Management Systems Long-Term and Short-Term Data Resources SummaryCase StudyReferences Hardware, Software, and People A Brief Look at Infrastructure Hardware for Effective Data Management and Access Client-Server Architecture Software for Data Analysis Developing People Resources The Data Analyst SummaryCase StudyReferences Educational Research Methods and Tools The Scientific Method and Educational Research Educational Research Methods Ethnographic Research Historical Research Descriptive Research Correlational Research Causal Comparative Research Experimental Research Action Research Data Collection Tools Direct Observation Structured Interviews Document Analysis Surveys Test Instruments SummaryCase StudyReferences Teachers and Administrators as Researchers Learning Communities Action Research in Action Trial Testing a Peer Tutoring Program Multiple Intelligences in a Foreign Language Program Advancing to an Inclusion Program SummaryActivitiesReferences Basic Applications Student Data, Demographics, and Enrollments Student Data Enrollment Projections at the District Level Attendance Zones and Individual Schools Taking a Census Special Student Populations SummaryActivitiesReferences School and the Community Partnering with the Community: Broad-Based Surveys Anatomy of a Survey Who Will Participate in the Survey? What Data Will Be Collected? Data Analysis Is the Sample Representative of the High School Population? Do Students Have Access to the Internet? The Committee's Next Steps SummaryActivitiesReferences Financial Management and Budgeting Basic Terminology School District Budget School Budget The Canton Alternative School Budget Emergency SummaryActivitiesReferences Supporting Teaching and Learning States, Cities, Districts, Schools, Classes, Teachers, Students Improving Teaching and Learning Jefferson Middle School Developing a Plan Information Overload: A Caution SummaryActivitiesReferences Supporting Teachers and Their Professional Development Summative and Formative Evaluation Collecting Personnel Data Kingsland School District Case Study Keeping Track of Professional Development SummaryActivitiesReferences Technical Support Review of Statistical Routines Used in this Book Key Terms Descriptive Statistical Procedures Frequency Distributions Contingency Tables (Crosstabulations) Measures of Central Tendency Measures of Dispersion Measures of Relationship Correlational Coefficient Linear Regression Caution Introduction to Spreadsheet Software Overview and Key Terms Spreadsheet Structure Data Types and Data Manipulation Charts and Graphics Introduction to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Overview The Data Editor Creating a Data Set Defining Variables Transforming Data Options Data Analysis Procedures and the Output Viewer Graphs and Charts Database Management Terms and Sample Outline Internet Resources for Data-Driven Decision MakingGlossaryIndex.

The chief executive officer of a corporation is not much different from a public school administrator. While CEOs base many of their decisions on data, for school administrators, this type of research may conjure up miserable memories of searching for information to meet a graduate school requirement. However, the value of data-based decision making will continue to escalate and the school community—students, teachers, parents and the general public—expect this information to come from their administrators. Administrators are called on to be accountable, but few are capable of presenting the mountain of data that they collect in a cohesive and strategic manner. Most statistical books are focused on statistical theory versus application, but Statistics Made Simple for School Leaders presents statistics in a simple, practical, conceptual, and immediately applicable manner. It enables administrators to take their data and manage it into strategic information so the results can be used for action plans that benefit the school system. The approach is 'user friendly' and leaves the reader with a confident can-do attitude to communicate results and plans to staff and the community.

This book will help you understand how to integrate data-based decisions into the daily work of the school. It is a practical and relevant handbook for converting data into wise decision-making and planning. It will give you the skills to successfully make data-based decisions, measure student learning and program effectiveness, evaluate student progress, use data to improve instruction, integrate a "Dynamic Planning" process into the daily operation of your school.

Pt. 1. Theoretical and practical perspectives -- pt. 2. Building support for data-based decisions -- pt. 3. Data-based applications.