Almost every district, charter, or educational organization has a strategic plan. Sometimes, we refer to these as improvement plans or action plans. Strategic plans are partially an accountability piece, but they are also more than that: they help us articulate our goals for supporting students—and the specific, measurable actions we’ll take to achieve those goals. … Continue reading Data Visualization & Action Plans: Filling Gaps in Seeing the “Big Picture”
This excerpt comes from our latest white paper written in conjunction with Gina Thompson, Superintendent of Yuma Union High School District. Read the entire article here. Based on raw numbers, Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) would appear to be a school district poised to fail. Poverty is endemic to the region; 73% of YUHSD … Continue reading How a Focus on Access & Equity Is Making a Difference in Yuma
The path to improved literacy requires data-literate educators. Literacy is the cornerstone of education, and a key to thriving in adulthood. True literacy means not just knowing how to decode printed language, but also being able to write, speak, and communicate across a wide range of media. Students who achieve high levels of literacy experience … Continue reading Keeping the Push Towards Literacy on Our Minds
The most popular analogy used to describe a data dashboard is a car’s dashboard, which gives instant access to critical information. An automobile dashboard allows the driver to view the various instruments to monitor the many functions of the car and engine. In a car, the instruments will instantly tell you the status of fuel … Continue reading Does Your School District Need a Data Dashboard?
Educational reform has taken many forms throughout history. But all reform efforts are based on the premise that improvements made to the educational system will have large returns to society. In particular, in the form of increased well-being and decreases in long-term societal costs. In the 1980s, a marked change took place in the approach … Continue reading Writing a Continuous Standards-Story for Students
Presented by Mark Adato – Transcription Below Introduction Welcome to the “Illuminate Whiteboard Series.” My name is Mark Adato. I’m an Implementation Manager on the D and A team, and today, we’re talking about the next generation science standards, also known as NGSS. So let’s talk about these standards that science teachers all over the … Continue reading What is NGSS Anyway?
The Illinois Report card has undergone two major changes throughout the few years. The good news is that it currently sits as one of the most user-friendly and informative state school reports in the country. Before explaining how the Report Card has improved, it helps to have a basic understanding of its definition and function. … Continue reading Understanding the Shifts in Illinois State Reporting
Presented by Annie Stefano – Transcription Below Introduction Welcome to the “Illuminate Whiteboard Series.” My name is Annie Stefano, and I am a customer success manager for the Implementation team. Today, we’re going to talk about some essential questions you wanna ask yourself before you change your report card. Believe it or not, this is … Continue reading What To Ask Before You Change Your Report Card
As educators, we understand data’s vital role in providing insights that can lead to better student outcomes. But too often, academic, behavioral, and cultural data stays in the system it’s housed in and never gets a chance to drive a holistic approach to educating students. With no easy way to access so-called data “silos,” … Continue reading Breaking Down Silos to Turn Data into Action
Learning is a posture. Yes, it’s a mindset. Yes, it’s an attitude. Yes it’s a process with mental, physical, and emotional variables working together. But it’s also the way a student sits. Allow me to explain. Teachers can identify the kid with his arms folded and his chin down on his chest. The kid … Continue reading Engaging Reluctant Learners: Relationships, Relevance, and Communication