ABSTRACT
School leaders have grabbed the reins and are using data in powerful ways for greater student and school improvement. Where data use is embedded throughout good teaching and learning, school leaders are not fretting excessively about testing mandates and accountability reports. Data work in schools can easily be grouped into four major components: school improvement, professional development, classroom instruction, and student performance and growth. At the school level, data work centers on organizational effectiveness. The Data Work Conceptualization Model illustrates the dynamic interplay of school improvement, professional development, classroom instruction, and student performance and growth work in deepening a culture of inquiry. Data literacy training should focus on school, classroom, and student levels, depending on identified priorities. Schools and families use year end performance and growth trend data to monitor student progress on grade level standards toward graduation. Data on benchmark assessments are particularly useful in assisting teachers in grouping students to practice identified skills.
