Panel of State Leaders: Highlighting State Initiatives on Using Data to

Improve InstructionValerie Woodruff

State Superintendent – Delaware Dept. of Education - Talking Points -

September 8, 2008 – Milwaukee, WI

Delaware’s History• Unique student identifier since mid-1980s, and

formed the basis of their data• Improving America’s Schools Act (IASA) in early

1990s brought forth DE’s consolidated application. Consolidated application focused on school improvement, using data on student achievement and school climate

• State accountability added greater focus• NCLB brought greater emphasis• P-20 initiatives increase usefulness

Data CollectionData Collection is not sufficient.

Data are only as good as their usefulness.• DSTP On-line Reports, currently in 9th version. • School Discipline• DEEDS (Delaware Educator Data System)

– Online Licensure and Certification– Highly Qualified Teachers (HOUSSE)

• Statewide Pupil Accounting System – through it developing a system to track professional development. Includes all districts, all schools but charter schools. Contains enrollment data, classroom schedules, teacher assignment, attendance, discipline reporting, and flags “SES” participants

• Data Warehouse – has completely revised school profiles. includes greater access & usefulness

Data Used to Focus Improvement• P-20 Data System – tracks students from pre-K to higher ed. Has allowed for

research showing effectiveness of early learning programs. Students that attended state-sponsored early learning programs did better later on as measured in 8th grade tests than their non-going counterparts.

• Correlates of Achievement – ex: teachers by certification & experience, grade and classroom demographics and achievement

• Consolidated Application• Education Success Planning and Evaluation System – with a balanced

scorecard methodology in mind. Across the state there are common indicators, but districts and schools can also create custom indicators to suit their circumstance– School, District, State Success Plans– Unified Monitoring/Quality Assurance, bringing together Title I, Title II,

special ed, etc.

State to District/School Assistance• Professional Development in Use of Data- which began with

the consolidated application– DOE for districts/charter schools– Vision 2015 for Vision Network Schools – use of available

data with a focus on results• CCSSO models– Differentiated Accountability Models– Formative Assessment– Surveys of Enacted Curriculum – tool required for

monitoring of districts, alignment of curriculum to standards; extremely helpful when engaging schools in early school improvement