Data Driven Instruction

Data driven instruction influences the vision, mission, and goals at all schools. Data is what we look at to influence how we, as a school, can improve and change what we are doing. We look at the data and see exactly where we need to improve. We use the data to track progress, plan and execute interventions and methods to improve on, report results, as well as hold teachers, parents, adminstrators, and students accountable. Data driven instruction also helps with mission, vision, and goals by accurately point out problems, identifying students needing extra help, make decisions and changes in the middle of the year or semester. It also lets our administrators review teachers progress. It also lets our teachers and parents review student progress. These are the key factors in implementing and planning a vision, mission, and goal for a school. Administrators should ensure that the data teachers receive is accurate, timely, and in a format that can help classroom instruction. This also ensures a more accurate account of where a school stands in relation to its vision, mission, and goals. Data-driven instruction gives us a good sense of where students are at the beginning of the year and gives us measurable goals for where we want our students to be at the end of the year. As administrators and teachers we need to use data to benchmark the progress of students during the school year toward those year-end goals. Simply using baseline data to set measurable year-end goals, without also implementing a system that allows for frequent analysis and adjustment of instructional and organizational practice, is not likely to result in significant improvements in student learning or reaching goals. If we meet regularly and frequently to collaborate we can make wise discussions about our school's and our students' progress. We need to use the data to identify patterns and discuss what the data says about students’ progress toward end of the year goals. We can then identify appropriate changes that need to be implemented during the next peroid of time and make a plan of action to implemente those changes.