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Unlocking the Power of Internal School Data: Tips for School Leaders

What is internal school data?

As a school leader, you know the importance of collecting and using data to help improve student learning. There are many external resources you use to collect academic data about your students. This data provides a snapshot of student achievement at a specific point in time and helps to inform instruction and programmatic decisions. However, internal school data is equally important, and you may be wondering how consistently it is being collected and whether it is being used to its full potential.

Internal school data refers to data that is collected within your school or district. This can include formative and summative assessments, attendance records, disciplinary records, program participation data, and more. Collecting this data is crucial for identifying areas of strength and weakness within your school community, evaluating teaching practices and educational programs, and measuring student progress over time.

Collecting internal school data

When collecting internal school data, it is important to keep a few things in mind. First, make sure that the collection method is consistent. This means that everyone who is responsible for collecting data should use the same procedures and tools to ensure that the data is reliable and valid. Additionally, make sure that the data you collect is representative of your community or population. For example, if you have a diverse student body, make sure that your data collection includes information about all student subgroups.

Gathering data electronically is a good idea because it saves time and provides an easy way to organize and analyze data. Using a template can also be helpful to ensure that data is collected consistently and accurately. However, be mindful of personal data being collected and remind staff about privacy laws and regulations to ensure that sensitive information is kept confidential.

Make sure that the data you collect is sustainable. Collecting data can be time-consuming, so it is important to make sure that the data you collect is meaningful and can be used to inform decision-making over time. This means that you should be intentional about the data you collect and only collect data that is useful and relevant to your goals.

What to do with the data once you've collected it

Once you have collected your data, it is important to analyze it to identify areas of strength and weakness within your school community. Some questions you can ask when analyzing your data include:

What successes do you notice?

What patterns or common themes show up?

What stories emerge from the data?

Do any of the patterns suggest other data to be collected?

What challenges or room for improvement are noticed?

By asking these questions and analyzing your data, you can identify areas where your school is doing well and areas where improvements can be made. This information can then be used to inform instruction, programmatic decisions, and resource allocation.

Why is collecting internal school data important for students?

Collecting and using internal school data is crucial for improving student learning and making informed decisions. By following best practices for data collection and analysis, you can ensure that your data is reliable, valid, and complete. This information can then be used to inform instruction and programmatic decisions, ultimately leading to better outcomes for your students.

In Summary

How to use internal data:

Analyze formative assessment results
Analyze summative assessment results
Compare groups of students across cohorts
Evaluate teaching practices and educational programs
Share with parents and students about individual progress

When collecting this data, here are some things to keep in mind:

Make sure the collection method is consistent.
Make sure your data represents your community or population.
Gather data electronically. A template is a good idea.
Be mindful of personal data being collected and remind staff about privacy.
Make sure your data collection method is something that can be sustained.

Questions you can ask:

What successes do you notice?
What patterns or common themes show up?
What stories emerge from the data?
Do any of the patterns suggest other data to be collected?
What challenges or room for improvement are noticed?

Chris

Chris Smith is an academic data analyst in the international education field. Throughout his 25 years in education, he noticed schools and educators collecting data but struggling with being overwhelmed or not knowing what to do with the data. So, he began coaching, training, and consulting schools and educators to learn how to discover what data they actually need and how they can turn it into information that leads to insights and informed decision-making.

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