baseline

Good Baseline Data
//Good baseline data// refers to the quality of the data with which educators start a learning initiative. What kinds of data should educators have at the beginning to adequately inform their practice?

Baseline data are used to set benchmarks and are used to determine change within different parts of a program or course.

//**Big Ideas**// It is certainly a repeated issue here with time to collect, review, and interpret the test data. If we look at the local data we have an instant test result with individual attachment to review and attend to.

Most, if not all educational related decisions should be backed up with data.

Use standardized test scores to begin the process. Look at all subgroup data from the past 5 years to see trend lines. (ITEDS, ITBS, MAPS, ect.)

Academic performance, attendance, demographic, and other information that can be monitored, and evaluated to accurately assess as well as improve student learning opportunities.

//**Practical Tips**// //Tips for collecting data: pilot testing, use multiple sources, sampling, comparison groups, know your source for information, possible constraints, design for analysis, surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, school records.//

Brainstorm the data you will need to collect to see if the program is working or not. Be willing to make ajustments along the way.

Implications for leaders: - Provide training on both analyzing data and finding effective solutions for those findings. - Allocate adequate time to study, interpret, collaborate, and collectively develop an action plan. - Partner with organizations to help analyze data. - Assign individuals to filter data (translate data into usable data). - Plan for an appropriate user friendly data system.

Having baseline data is one thing. Using that information is another. Key steps: 1. Planning what data to use 2. Have a good design in place 3. Conduct the process 4. Report the findings 5. Encourage use of the findings [] data"

//**Resources**// 2006 -Making Sense of Data-Driven Decision Making in Education-Julie A. Marsh, John F. Pane, and Laura S. Hamilton 2011 - Principles and Indicators Summary - fairtest.org