How To Create a School Culture of Effective Data Use

When it comes to using data to apply the science of reading to support student success, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or be unsure of where to start. 

Questions might arise about how to ensure buy-in from educators, how to overcome the often steep learning curve, or how to ensure data is accessible and usable. From training to implementation, using data to support student learning is often seen as a challenging hurdle, but with the right tools, effective data use can become a part of your school’s culture. 

Alongside selecting the appropriate science of reading solution, this guidance will ease concerns and get you started. With small, consistent steps, creating a data-driven school culture becomes an attainable reality. 

Setting a Shared Vision for Data Use

Educators know it’s important to "use technology effectively” to best help students, but what, precisely, does that mean? Research reveals principals who clarify expectations for educators have more success implementing technology in their schools. Thus, these actions can help leadership set a shared vision for data use that best supports student success:

• Create schoolwide alignment on the purpose of data
  Leadership should reiterate to faculty and staff that the purpose of data is growth—professional growth for the staff and academic growth for students. Communicate gentle reminders that data is not about “gotcha” moments or calling out faculty for any gaps in knowledge. 

• Establish clear goals about how data supports student learning
  What data needs to be collected and why? Explain to educators why data from a new assessment or reports from an edtech company will be helpful to their students.  

• Communicate expectations consistently and transparently
  To maintain a data-driven school culture, ensure all communications and trainings are in alignment. Build regular emphasis on data use into everyday cadence, and principals and other school leaders should use a variety of techniques to explain changing requirements. For example, demonstrating how to use an online gradebook could take place at a staff meeting, while learning the ins and outs of a computer-based assessment might be best done by observing a lead teacher.  

• Use standardized types of data to streamline data collection and application
  Standardized data collection methods ensure everyone understands the shared vision and stays on the same page. Lexia® Core5® Reading for pre-K through fifth grade provides educators with easy-to-use, real-time skills and progress reports. Reference these myLexia® reports to understand where students may need extra support and where they are making exceptional progress.

“I use the Lexia® reports daily as part of our MTSS process. I’m constantly monitoring progress and usage data and sharing reports with school principals, assistant principals, and teachers. myLexia makes it easy to pull the reports and share with staff at the level of detail they need,” Jennifer Williams, an assistant principal in Georgia, says.

Providing professional development

For educators to truly invest themselves in edtech, they need to know how to use it. In addition to implementing a new device or operating a computer program, educators also need to learn how such resources will help them gather data and inform their teaching. These strategies are helpful for schools planning professional development:

• Offer professional learning about interpreting and applying data
  Professional development should include time to learn new technological skills, as well as time to practice interpreting and applying data results. Knowing how to use the software is just as important as knowing how to use the findings. If using a product like Core5 in your school or district, professional development could include instruction about how to use the myLexia standardized reports. For example, the Class Overview: Action Plan can help teachers see which students need help and which students are ready to apply what they’ve learned. 

• Model data conversations through coaching, PLCs, and leadership meetings
  Make use of coaching, professional learning communities, implementation champions, and leadership meetings to model data analysis and discuss how to apply the results in real classroom situations. How can your people learn from each other and their experiences? These tips can help you structure data conversations. 

• Normalize questions and learning curves
  Encouraging questions from your faculty and staff will help deepen their knowledge and understanding, mitigate doubts, and cultivate a strong school culture around data use. Promote acceptance of the learning curve and encourage educators every step of the way. 

Making data accessible and actionable

“I use data provided by Lexia to write IEPs and progress monitoring. The data is invaluable,” Jenny Lespi, a special education teacher in Alabama, says. 

Maximize data-use effectiveness by providing training about interpretation and application of reports. You can also outline specific actions to take based on the data. Try these tips to increase data accessibility and support educators as they apply the results: 

• Use tools like dashboards and platforms that simplify access
  Provide dashboards or programs that simplify access to data and interpretation. For example, Core5 provides standardized, easy-to-read myLexia reports to assist in the monitoring process. These reports allow educators to easily access weekly and monthly monitoring of how much progress their students are making and who might need additional support. 

• Focus on data that informs instruction
  Not all data is created equal, and some information will be more useful when supporting student progress. Focus on data that can inform instruction like formative assessments or skill gap monitoring. Don’t assess just for assessment’s sake. 

• Avoid data overload—prioritize quality over quantity 
  Maintaining a focus on applicable data also keeps teachers from feeling overwhelmed by too much information. By prioritizing quality data that can be easily and successfully applied, educators gain confidence and are more likely to see positive student results. 

Create time and structure for collaboration

Since edtech enables us to gather more information than ever before, it’s important for school and district leaders to have a plan for managing the resulting information flow. Research findings suggest that collaboration between district administrators and educators at individual schools allows users to make this process streamlined and effective. Consider these points about facilitating information flow:  

• Schedule regular data meetings or PLCs with clear protocols
  Regular gatherings about data use keep everyone in alignment while also providing an opportunity for educators to share what they’ve learned and what worked for them. It also makes space for educators to discuss challenges and learn from their peers. 

• Encourage peer-to-peer sharing of successful strategies
  Foster an environment of sharing successful strategies—what one educator learned might help another. This culture of sharing can minimize time spent on analyzing and applying data while building confidence and encouragement among the community. 

• Use data to celebrate progress, not just identify challenges
  Data is not just for identifying where changes need to be made, it can also show where celebration is in order. Using data for both maintains a positive association with data—showing it as a means of highlighting success, not just an indicator that more work is needed.  

Foster a safe, reflective environment

Building a data-driven school culture requires buy-in and commitment from educators. Maintaining a safe environment that encourages reflection supports growth, builds confidence and buy-in, and ultimately leads to a better application of data. 

• Build trust so educators feel comfortable being honest about results
  When educators feel supported, they are more likely to be honest about results—a key factor in successful data application. 

• Encourage reflection rather than blame
  Encourage educators to choose reflection and growth instead of guilt and blame when it comes to less than ideal data results. Frame every result as an opportunity for positive change. 

• Recognize effort and growth alongside achievement
  Take time to recognize educators who are committed to a data-driven school culture. Ensure you are celebrating not just achievement, but also effort and growth. 

Celebrate successes and discuss results

• Share stories of impact
  Inspire educators to remain committed to a school culture of data use by sharing impactful stories about application and analysis. These stories not only inspire educators, they also provide actionable strategies for others to try.
  
  
• Use feedback loops to improve processes
  Provide consistent opportunities for feedback and overall program analysis to improve processes in both analysis and application. Take time to see what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve moving forward. 
  
  
• Keep focus on students and continuous improvement 
  Remember the main goal of data use—supporting student success. Regularly remind the community of the why behind the culture of data use.

A supportive, data-informed culture is a powerful tool when it comes to driving student success. School and district leadership set the tone for how edtech and data-driven practice will be implemented, and we encourage you to lead by example. 

While it may seem overwhelming at first to cultivate a school environment of data analysis and implementation, consistent steps will see you to the finish line. Start small, stay consistent, and keep both teachers and student success at the center, and you’ll be on your way! The end result of effective data use is a school culture that looks at student needs to improve teaching—and that's a vision everyone can support.