ISKME Special Series Part 1: Data Driven
Savvy school administrators are using data to improve instruction districtwide.
Christmas came early for the School District of Philadelphia (PA). In early December, the district announced that, for the fourth consecutive year, students showed measurable improvement on standardized, nationally normed TerraNova tests.
“While we admit that there is still a lot of room for improvement, we have seen indications of higher performance growth, but also a continued reduction in students scoring in the bottom quartile,” said Paul Vallas, district CEO, as trending results were summarized in December.
What’s fueling the school district’s ongoing momentum? Vallas credits a managed instructional program that includes data-driven instruction and decision-making characterized by six-week benchmarks and assessments, plus increased and standardized professional development during and after the regular school day and year.
