According to this report, “The use of student data systems to improve education and help students succeed is a national priority” (Means et al., 2010, pg. ix). The report presents data from a national district survey combined with site visits conducted during 2007-08, examining the level of implementation of data-driven decision making at the local level. The authors suggest that while support for data systems at the state level is strong, data systems at the local level must be reinforced. The report concludes with three broad implementation themes relevant to improving local use of education data systems: 1) “A good data system is not enough: Use of data to inform instruction requires leadership and systemic realignment”; 2) “Efforts to promote data-drive decision making are more successful when they are not treated as a separate innovation”; 3) “Timely, credible, interim assessment data is key to motivating teachers to use data systems” (Means et al., 2010, pg. 83).
Means, B., Padilla, C., & Gallagher, L. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. (2010). Use of education data at the local level: From accountability to instructional improvement. Washington, D.C.
