Description
Book SynopsisTurn skepticism about data into knowledge for true educational reform!
More versatile than mere number crunching and statistics, data can be an effective toolor even a powerful catalystfor change within a school. By replacing cynicism with conviction, learning to harness data's power, and becoming good users of data to positively impact student achievement, school leaders can develop three crucial capacities: an inquiry habit of mind, data literacy, and a culture of inquiry.
Lorna M. Earl and Steven Katz show educators how to become comfortable with data, and provide valuable tools for school improvement teams to use in their work, including:
- Vignettes to support group discussion
- Activities for practicing the ideas and concepts in the book
- Task sheets
- Short case studies with actual school data that show how the full process works in a school
To improve schools, data can and should be a vita
Trade Review
"I recommend this book for school leadership teams and study groups delving into the school improvement process. Earl and Katz manage to make leaders feel comfortable with using data to improve student achievement. The authors help reduce the fear of ′number crunching′ with vignettes that show how meaningful data analysis through a team approach can truly help direct our efforts to improve academic outcomes." -- Ronald L. Russell, Assessment Consultant
"Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World is just what the doctor ordered to make data work for the betterment of schools. It is simultaneously deep and practical. It puts data at the center, but also puts it in perspective. It gives data a purpose and a set of conceptual and strategic tools for using knowledge wisely and effectively." -- From the Foreword by Michael Fullan
"The book that every school administrator needs. A clear blueprint for establishing a school climate open to an evidence-based approach to programmatic change." -- PsycCRITIQUES, August 2006
Table of Contents
Foreword by Michael Fullan About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Putting Data at the Center of School Improvement 2. Using Data for Informed Decision Making 3. Cultivating the Qualities of Data-Driven Leadership 4. Developing an Inquiry Habit of Mind 5. Becoming Data Literate 6. Creating a Culture of Inquiry 7. Sustaining the Process: The Cycle of Inquiry Resource: Task Sheets for Assignments References Index
