The momentum behind building high-quality data systems to harvest better information about student, school, and district performance has never been stronger. Although collecting data is essential, knowing how to analyze and apply this information is just as important for meeting the end goal of improving student achievement.

The purpose of this project was to identify, quantify, and report on district-level processes that enable effective utilization of data to increase academic achievement at the classroom level.

Project scoping incorporates input from those participating in the project, but will likely address these primary objectives.

• Identify best practices in the collection, analysis, and utilization of student performance data.
• Develop a process approach that links together all key staff members and stakeholders involved in data collection, analysis, and utilization.
• Develop a common set of performance measures that can be used to benchmark and evaluate their district’s current data collection, analysis, and utilization processes.
• Learn innovative practices in the dissemination of student data.
• Examine what unique or commercial programs, technologies, IT platforms, software applications, and other tools are being used in support of data-driven decision making in successful districts.
• Learn what leading districts are measuring around student performance data and how they are gathering those metrics.

Components and Timeline:

The D3M project concluded July 2008. 

Scope:

Data Collection

• This scope area focuses on how districts collect and aggregate data from (often disparate) data sources.

Data Management and Data Analysis

• This scope area focuses on how districts maintain and analyze their existing data. Although this area of the study includes some aspects of technology, it concentrates on the policies and practices concerning data management/analysis.

Culture

• This scope area focuses on cultural aspects that promote data-use. In an ideal scenario, data should shape conversations, meetings, and strategic plans within a district.

Implementation

• This final scope area focuses on how data-driven decision making is actually being implemented.

Over 70 districts from across the country joined this project to make it a successful benchmarking study.