Thursday, August 02, 2007

Maximizing Student Achievement Data for Change

Below are the slides from a presentation I am giving today at Colorado Association of School Executives annual conference in Breckenridge, CO. My goal is to get the point across that we don't need more assessments until we are effective at using the data we do have. The point is not that additional assessments aren't needed to better diagnose and progress monitor, but rather that we need to get past the idea that data in and of themselves will change instruction. Data only talk back if you listening and learning to listen is a process. The point to the executives (administrators) at this conference is that we need to make it easy for our teachers to listen. Check out the slides:

Balanced Scorecard Metrics

Adams County School District 14 is working to develop a Balanced Scorecard that measures all perspectives (Financial, Learning and Growth, Internal Processes, and Customer/Student Achievement). We have created a strategy map (see the PowerPoint slide below) and a mock-up of our BSC (see the excel below). We are still finalizing the metrics and how they will appear on the scorecard. Our next steps are as follows: (1) include draft data (you will see the draft does not have data yet), (2) test the value of the card with data, (3) determine effective ways to measure objectives that do not yet have metrics. We are open to input.

In our development of the BSC, which is as much a framework for our strategy as it is a reporting tool, we first developed the strategy map. The strategy map frames the interrelationship between perspectives and objectives. In addition, the strategy map is communicating what is important to the district. What becomes problematic is that everything that is important is not easily measurable. For example, one of the things that we have identified as important is to "improve student products." We think this is important because in the 21st Century it is not enough for students to complete the requirements of the traditional school system (e.g. worksheets). Students need to be demonstrating their skills at 21st Century skills like presenting, analyzing, and communicating to and with the wider global community. That said, we haven't the slightest idea how we are going to measure the improvement in student products. What is key is that we still put the objective on the BSC. Even if we haven't figured it out we send the message that this or will be important to the district achieving its mission.