Closing Achievement Gaps with Data-Driven Instructional Strategies

1. NCLB and Success for All Students: What’s Working to Close the P-12 Student Achievement GapsEPLC ConferenceMarch 30, 2007

2. Univ. of Pittsburgh’s Partnership for School District Improvement (PSDI) in the School of Education Assistance Teams in Wilkinsburg & Duquesne City SD. Next School Year Launching the Classroom Excellence Initiative Working in 10 Districts On Data Introducing a teacher friendly tool to access student data Combine that with University training focused on the state’s data tools Background

3. Objectives for Today • Briefly introduce you to the University of Pittsburgh’s Partnership for School District Improvement • Discuss one approach to improving student achievement that: • Introduces a teacher-friendly tool that can be used by classroom teachers • Focuses the professional development program on teachers using data to develop instructional strategies • Gets the data into the hands of students so they can become part of the improvement process

4. Wilkinsburg—2006 PSSA/AYP Results • Due to Improved (not necessarily good) Scores • The district met AYP targets—1st time ever • The high school met AYP targets—1st time in 4 yrs • The middle school made AYP targets—1st time in 4 yrs • Kelly elementary made AYP—2nd yr in a row • Turner elementary made AYP—2 of last 3 yrs • Johnston elem. didn’t make AYP—1st time in 3 yrs • No school is in school improvement or corrective action status

5. A Question to Ponder! • If James Carville were advising us on what to do in Pennsylvania, what would he say to us???

6. James Carville’s Poster Would Say… It’s The Assessment Anchors Stupid!!!! Anchor Person

7. PSDI’s Poster Would Say It’s All About Teams of TeachersUsing Data to Develop Instructional Strategies on a student by student basis focusing on the assessment anchors

8. Here is Some of What the Rand Corporation Says • Making Sense of Data Driven Decision-Making in Education (1) • Building Data Capacity in School Districts • Provide focused training on analyzing data and identifying and enacting solutions • Allocate adequate time • Partner with organizations • Assign individuals to filter data • Plan for appropriate and user-friendly technology and data systems (1)Taken from a Rand Occasional Paper in 2006

9. Ingredients for PSDI’s Poster • Time • Tools • Transitions • Temperament • Training

10. Ingredient #1--Time • Time to Analyze Data—Compare Results—Meet with Students/Parents • In-service • Act 80 • Common Planning Time • Academic Duties • Longer School Day • Longer School Year

11. Ingredient #2 –Tools ”New” Tools from PDE • In Response to NCLB, There Is A New Generation of Tools and Systems Designed to Improve Student Achievement • Assessment Anchors • PA AYP • Grow Network • PSSA Data Interactive System (e-Metric) • 4Sight Benchmark Assessments • Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessments

12. Ingredient #3—Transitions The New 3R’s • Rigor and Remediation • Rigor--Math—Cognitive Tutor/I Can Learn/Apangea • Remediation--Mandatory After-school Programs • Relevancy • Relationships—Engaging Students

13. Ingredient #4--Temperament • Paul O’Neil—criteria for good organizations, professional employees should be able to answer affirmatively to the following four questions: • Was I treated with dignity and respect? • Was I given the tools and training that I needed? • Did I make a difference? • Did anyone notice?

14. Ingredient #5--Training • IU’s/Pattan’s/Non-Profits/Universities etc. • Use a Combination of Outside Facilitators and In-House Expertise • Focus on Data • Data Days—around common planning time • Quad’s—quarterly data reviews • Data Retreats—annual review of data

15. Who is W. Edwards Deming?

16. A Continuous Improvement Process Is Recommended Assess the Students Have Teams of Teachers Analyze Data Apply the Strategies to the Students Develop Instructional Strategies Based on the Data

17. Data Functions (1) • Get the right data—valid and reliable • Get the data right—accurate • Get the data right away—ASAP vs. Autopsy • Get the data the right way—by district, by school, by grade, by classroom, by student • Get the right data management system (1) Stolen from Paula Calabrese who took it from somewhere

18. Looking at Data from Different Heights • The Airplane View • From 5,000 feet—for administrators/boards • The Helicopter View • From 500 feet—for principals/coaches • The View from the 2nd Floor • From 10 feet--primarily for teachers • The View from the Ground • Teacher and Student Interaction

19. And Access to “Standard” Data Is Still Critical(Handout) • Courses Taken • Grades • Teachers • Standardized Assessments • Attendance • Discipline • Curriculum Based Assessments

20. The Rhyme of the School Administrator(Borrowed from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner) • Data, data everywhere—so much it’s hard to think; • Data, data everywhere—if only it would link!

21. One Last Tool for Our Arsenal • EdInsight Data Window • Developed for classroom teachers • Criteria Pitt uses!!! • Quality Classroom Consortium • Wilkinsburg and Fox Chapel joined at the same time for the same reasons • Classroom Excellence Initiative

22. PSDI’s Poster Would Say It’s All About Teams of TeachersUsing Data to Develop Instructional Strategies on a student by student basis focusing on the assessment anchors

23. Follow-Up Questions?? Contact: Jim Turner—University of Pittsburgh’s Partnership for School District Improvement jwt7@pitt.edu