Data Driven Instruction

October 19, 2012

Dr. Rogers, National Teacher of the Year (2003)

Data Driven Instruction 

"Accomplished teachers know their students."

Students are coming into classrooms with a variety of needs and dispositions, therefore it is crucial that teachers have an understanding of their students. Using data driven instruction allows for differentiation for all students in a class and allows the teacher to provide the best instruction for his/her classroom. 

District and individual schools follow their own data collection procedures. This data is used to identify successful areas, problems, and other issues the school may be facing in a professional manner. 

 After the implementation of No Child Left Behind there has been a trend towards data driven instruction. A school can now look at their AYP (adequate yearly progress) scores and desegregate the information based on subject, race, special education, ELL, and free and reduced lunch. This detailed breakdown allows teachers to have a visual representation of areas of concern.

 If a Title 1 school does not make AYP for two consecutive years, the zoned students are given school choice and the school must provide SES (Supplemental Education Services). These Title 1 schools are required to inform their students' parents after not making AYP after the first year. 

However, if a school is not Title then they are not required to inform the students' parents that they did not make AYP. If these non Title 1 schools do not make AYP for two years, no changes are made. They are not required to provide school choice or SES. 

Teacher quality is everything. 

Classrooms are becoming more and more diverse and as the classroom adapts, teachers must also adapt. Teachers who understand that their students learn in different ways and differentiate their instruction to meet those needs will see more successful students. 

Additional Resources: Data, Data, Everywhere Victoria Burnhardt