Who should use data-based decision making?

This tool is organized to help schools and technical assistance providers find useful resources at key points and to guide them through the school improvement process. The school leadership and school improvement teams may use the information at each step in the school improvement process or whenever they want better understanding of what needs to be done or more in-depth knowledge of available resources. For more information, read our underlying philosophy. For tips about how to best use this site, select the item that best describes your role. Policymaker. You are a school board, state board of education, or local education agency administrator. School team contact. You have been designated to act as the liaison between the school's improvement team and others, such as the support team leader or technical assistance provider who is monitoring the progress of your school. State/school support team leader. You are the designated contact member of the school support team. You are charged with monitoring, and providing timely feedback on, the school's progress. Technical assistance provider. You are a technical assistance provider working with a school on school improvement. You have been asked to provide professional development and feedback on the implementation progress.

How to use the search function

You may use the search textblocks at the top of every page to find information in the steps and resources sections. The search function does not use Boolean operators (e.g., and, not) but searches for the literal characters entered. Text entered in the steps textblock will be compared with text from all step titles and descriptions. Text entered in the resources textblock will be compared with text from all resource titles, authors, publications, and descriptions. For best results, enter the most unique word from the topic you are searching. For example, if you are searching for information on a specific type of test, the search term "test" will return all of the steps throughout the Web site with the word "test" anywhere on the page. Using the search term "norm" or "criterion" will result in a more specific list of steps. Linking state-specific data to the Web tool States can place links or entry points from their Web sites to the Data-Based Decision Making Web Tool. Many states have (or will have) extensive data resources available on their Web sites. States may customize how the tool is to be used through directions on their Web sites where the link or entry point is provided. The Web tool helps schools use the data the states provide in the context of school study and implementation of school improvement. The power of data for identifying school improvement goals, selecting appropriate interventions, monitoring the effectiveness of those interventions, and documenting progress and success in achieving goals is clearly described at each step in the process. State Web site administrators should consider providing links from the state's data resources to the following steps on this Web tool. What are the most useful sources of student data? What do we have? What do we need? How do we use data to document success in meeting goals? State Web site administrators should consider providing links from their school improvement planning resources/tools to the following steps on this Web tool. How do we set data-based goals? What is our time line? What assignments are necessary? State Web site administrators should consider providing links from state instructional resources and programs such as Comprehensive School Reform and Reading First to the following steps on this Web tool. How do we select interventions? How do we select interventions for targeted subgroups? State Web site administrators should consider providing links from state professional development planning and provider resources to the following steps on this Web tool. How do we set data-based goals? What staff development and support are necessary? State Web site administrators should consider providing links from state grant and budget resources to the following steps on this Web Tool. What staff development and support are necessary? How does our plan impact our budget? Progress reports School teams may enter a brief description of their activities at significant points in the planning and improvement process. These descriptions are called "progress notes." The points at which schools should describe their progress are indicated on the topic list by the icon. To add, view, or edit your progress notes Sign in. This option is available only to registered members of the site. Next, do one of the following: Select a topic with a corresponding from the topic list. Scroll to the bottom of the topic to enter your progress notes. or Select my profile Follow the links to edit your progress records. © 2001-2006 Edvantia (formerly AEL) and CCSSO DBDM is a collaborative project between Edvantia and CCSSO.