Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement, Third Edition, is a call to action. It is about inspiring schools and school districts to commit to continuous school improvement by providing a framework that will result in improving teaching for every teacher, and learning for every student, through the comprehensive use of data. It provides a new definition of improvement, away from a singular focus on compliance, toward a true commitment to excellence. This Third Edition is the culmination of over 25 years of doing the hard work in schools and districts, both nationally and internationally, to analyze, report, communicate, and use multiple measures of data for continuous school improvement. This book provides new and very specific tools, timelines, and strategies that will help schools and districts become true learning organizations.
Not a book I would recommend as pleasurable reading (ha!), however it was informative and appropriate to read as a school leader working with data. Very easy to digest, clear and straightforward method. Definitely a book to read if you need to understand how to compile, read, and report on data for school improvement.
I really liked the structure of this book and that it goes in a definitive timeline. I have read a lot of college books where you feel like it jumps all around, but this one was well structured.
The author presents a compelling case for developing data sets beyond test scores. When analyzing data, she argues that student data goes well beyond test scores and includes personal data on the students, data on the community, and data on the school as a whole. Once that is collected, then, and only then, can serious analysis begin and ways to improve the school developed. Solid book.