School-Level Data Availability and Usefulness for School Leaders

ACT Research & Policy School-Level Data Availability and Usefulness for School Leaders

Raeal Moore, PhD Data Byte 2016-12

In 2013, 1,194 school administrators in one Availability and Usefulness, by Data Element midwestern state were asked to complete 90% District-Administered Assessments 90% a survey about school-level data and, if 97% Statewide Assessments 90% available, the data’s level of usefulness in 82% District-Administered Assessments 89% decision making. School principals were Disaggregated by Subtopics or Skills 81% Statewide Assessments 88% asked to complete the online survey or Disaggregated by Subtopics or Skills redirect the survey to an assistant principal 94% School-Administered Assessments 86% most knowledgeable about data. Participants 73% Nationally Normed Assessments 85% 95% Student Special Education 84% included school administrators from 406 Information schools in 147 districts. 96% Student Behavior Data 82% 93% Data Obtained from Classroom 80% The figure illustrates several key findings: Walkthroughs 94% Student Attendance Rates 76% • A majority of school administrators 82% School-Wide Aggregated Survey 69% have access to a variety of data Responses from Teachers 79% Results Obtained from a Systematic 67% elements. Not surprisingly, almost all Review of Student Work (97%) district administrators indicated that 96% Student Grades 67% 70% School-Wide Aggregated Survey 64% statewide assessment data are available to Responses from Students 93% Student Participation in (Non- 62% them. In comparison, 70% of administrators Supplementary) Educational Programs School-Wide Aggregated Survey indicated that they had access to data that 75% Responses from Parents 58% aggregated student survey responses. 93% Student Retention Histories 57% Student Participation in • Even though data elements are 87% Supplementary Education Programs 54% available, not all are perceived as 77% Student Course Enrollment Histories 53%

useful. School administrators reported 76% School-Wide Mobility Rates 49%

that student retention histories are widely Available Very or Extremly Useful available (93%), whereas only 57% of those said the data were useful. This was also true for student participation in have available district-administered 85% useful) as well as district-wide (82% non-supplementary (93% available; 62% assessments, and a high percentage of available; 89% useful) and statewide useful) and supplementary (87% available; them report that those assessments are (82% available; 89% useful) assessments 54% useful) programs. useful (90%). disaggregated by subtopic or skill are • District-level assessments are both • Three data elements are perceived to available. Of those administrators who Raeal Moore is a senior research widely available and widely perceived reported these assessments’ availability, scientist at ACT specializing in survey be more useful than available. School methodological research and research on as useful. The findings suggest that the administrators reported that nationally more found them to be useful than education best practices in P–12 schools. majority of school administrators (90%) normed assessments (73% available; available.

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