Data Wise in Action: Stories of Schools Using Data to Improve Teaching and Learning

What does it look like when a school uses data wisely? Data Wise in Action tells the stories of eight very different schools that are following the process outlined in the bestselling Data Wise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning (Harvard Education Press, 2005). A companion and sequel to the earlier book, Data Wise in Action highlights the leadership challenges schools face in each phase of the eight-step Data Wise process and illustrates how staff members use creativity and collaboration to overcome those challenges. This book offers both inspiration and practical guidance for the thousands of school leaders who are exploring ways to use data wisely with their colleagues and staff.

This collection of highly readable cases offers insights on implementing the Data Wise school improvement process. Data Wise in Action will lead the way in guiding teachers, principals, and other stakeholders to overcome organizational and cultural barriers to student success. Kenneth K. Wong, Chair, Department of Education and Director of Urban Education Policy Program, Brown University

Data Wise in Action testifies to the challenges and triumphs of using data to improve student achievement. I have begun the Data Wise process at my school and I am seeing a real change in how the faculty views data. It is no longer a dreaded, dirty word but a valuable tool to improve teaching and learning. The bottom line is: Data Wise definitely works and yields great results! Denise Jamison, Principal, The Williamsburg Middle School Academy, Brooklyn, New York

Data Wise in Action portrays the challenges educators face in building a collaborative, data-driven culture. Through each case study, the authors show how a systematic focus on data helps teachers make better instructional decisions and, through lots of teamwork, sharing of information, and collaboration, allows schools to become learning organizations focused on improving achievement for all students. Jonathan P. Raymond, Chief Accountability Officer, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte, North Carolina

Drawing on the experiences of educators in a diverse array of schools, Data Wise in Action provides a wealth of practical guidance for creating a strong culture of data use. Readers will learn from the challenges and successes documented in each chapter. Data Wise in Action is an invaluable resource for schools or districts that want to use evidence to improve the quality of instruction not just raise test scores. Laura Hamilton, PhD, Senior Behavioral Scientist, RAND Corporation

Kathryn Parker Boudett, co-editor of Data Wise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning, is the director of the Data Wise Project and lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Jennifer Steele is an advanced doctoral student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she studies incentives for attracting skilled teachers to high-need schools. She serves as an editor of the Harvard Educational Review."