Standards for Effective Data Use
It’s clear that educators today need to develop data savvy. The Statewide Longitudinal Data System partners, comprised of educational leaders across 13 states, provide a set of Data Use Standards describing the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed for effective data use to inform instructional and programmatic decisions.

It is recommended that school and district leadership teams reflect about their professional growth in data use knowledge, skills and professional behaviors. These standards provide a good beginning for such reflection as they detail “the essential knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors required by teachers and administrators to effectively use data to inform instructional and programmatic decisions.” The standards are divided into three subgroups, which are listed in the table below:
Knowledge, Skills and Professional Behavior Standards for Data Use
Knowledge
Skills
Professional Behaviors
Fundamental Knowledge
Processing Knowledge
Conceptual Knowledge
Planning
Selecting
Collecting
Analyzing
Interpreting
Communicating
Acting
Ethical Use
Rules and Regulations
Collaboration
Continuous Improvement

Data inquiry is most effective with sound foundational cultures and systems to access and use data. Through self-assessment, leadership teams become aware of their organizational data structures and processes as well as their role in leading staff through data use. The purpose of this self-assessment is for teams to gauge the level of data-informed leadership within their school or district culture. Designed for school, district or teacher leadership teams, this collaborative self-assessment helps team members examine and be informed about data leadership facets currently in their school or district. Results from this team process are used to guide actions to improve data cultures, systems, and use.

Purpose:
The purpose of this resource is to understand the importance and legal requirements of protecting student data privacy and assess the status of current practices.

Description:
This resource is designed to be utilized collaboratively by district leadership teams and reinforced by school leadership teams. First, you will find guidance regarding policies, principles and protocols critical to protect student data. The checklist that follows is organized into eight items to assess and provide evidence regarding current status. Using the checklist, teams identify areas of need and plan actions to be taken to insure student privacy.

A comprehensive needs assessment aligned with the allowable activities is required if the district or consortia allocation is over $30,000. The comprehensive needs assessment must include, at a minimum, a focus on the three content areas identified above. Additional recommendations about conducting a needs assessment are located in the "Implementing Effective SSAE Program Activities" section which starts on page 15 of the Non-Regulatory Guidance document. Additional resources are available below.