ABSTRACT
Challenges always balance the opportunities. In many instances, one overarching opportunity outweighs the many challenges, even though the number of challenges may be daunting. The overarching opportunity provides the motivation for change. Educator preparation programs must see themselves as learning organizations where data use for improving practice is central to functioning. Opportunities are the heart of the continuous improvement process. Programmatic improvement is separated into two parallel but often competing objectives. By far, the most pervasive opportunity for data use is for educator preparation programs to gain insights into how they can improve their programs through an iterative inquiry process that provides them informative, timely, and actionable data on which decisions can be made; that is, for continuous programmatic improvement purposes. Data use provides programs with opportunities to establish, nurture, and maintain improved alignment with various stakeholder groups. Data use also provides opportunities for open communication and improvement within and across institutions of higher education.
