The current high‐stakes accountability environment has created strong incentives for educators to systematically collect and use data inform instructional decisions. This article examines the strategies employed by three urban school districts promote improvement their effect on administrator, principal, teacher practice. Several factors are found affect use, including accessibility timeliness of data, perceptions validity, training, support teachers with regard analysis interpretation,...

Background/Context In recent years, states, districts, schools, and external partners have recognized the need to proactively foster use of data guide educational decision-making practice. Understanding that alone will not guarantee use, individuals at all levels invested in interventions support better access to, interpretation of, responses kinds. Despite emergence these efforts, there has been little systematic examination research on such efforts. Purpose/Objective/Research...

As accountability systems have increased demands for evidence of student learning, the use data in education has become more prevalent many countries. Although school and administrative leaders are recognizing need to provide support teachers on how interpret respond data, there is little theoretically sound research data-driven decision making (DDDM) guide their efforts. Drawing sociocultural learning theory, extant empirical literature, findings from a recent study, this paper develops...

This article examines the convergence of two popular school improvement policies: instructional coaching and data-driven decision making (DDDM). Drawing on a mixed methods study statewide reading coach program in Florida middle schools, how coaches support DDDM this relates to student teacher outcomes. Authors find that although majority spent time helping teachers analyze data guide instruction, was one among many activities. Estimates from models indicate analysis support, nevertheless,...

This article examines an understudied aspect of teachers’ sensemaking student learning data: the way in which teachers explain causes outcomes observed data. Drawing on and attribution theory data collected six middle schools, we find that while most often attributed to their own instruction, they also frequently focused supposedly stable characteristics. By citing these characteristics as explanations for results analyzed, may have inhibited reflection practice reinforced low expectations...

Background Despite increased access to student learning data, scholars have demonstrated that teachers do not always know how use these data in ways lead deep changes instruction and often lack skills knowledge interpret results develop solutions. In response, administrators invested instructional coaches, professional communities (PLCs) support this process. their popularity, there is limited research on the which coaches PLCs mediate teachers’ of various types expertise brought bear...

Design-based learning and makerspace programs have been shown to be effective in increasing student motivation for STEM learning. Since these largely implemented middle school older students, less is known about their motivational implications elementary contexts. The purpose of this study was understand how students' (grades 3-6) self-efficacy changed throughout the semester a design-based course, changes are associated with experiences positive negative achievement emotions. Additionally,...

This study drew on teacher survey responses from randomized experiments exploring three different pay-for-performance programs to examine the extent which these motivated teachers improve student achievement and impact of such teachers' instruction, number hours worked, job stress, collegiality. Results showed that most did not report their program as motivating. Moreover, suggest none changed increased worked or damaged Future research needs further logic model test alternative incentive...

Coaching has become a central strategy in district and school efforts to build teacher capacity interpret respond student learning data. Despite their popularity, there is limited research on the implementation of these initiatives. This article begins addresses this gap by examining elements coach’s practice that appear teachers’ skills knowledge use data guide instructional decisions. Drawing sociocultural theory interview survey collected four middle schools—two with “strong” coaches two...

Purpose: A common strategy used in school improvement efforts is a mandated process of formal planning, yet little known about the quality plans or relationship between plan and implementation. This mixed-methods article investigates quality, factors associated with implementation, drawing on first 3 years Los Angeles Unified School District initiative that relied planning. Research Design: Our research team rated all 206 submitted to district drew surveys applicant teams principals...

In this essay, the authors explore trends in intergovernmental relations (IGR) by analyzing recent education policies—No Child Left Behind Act, Common Core State Standards, and local empowerment policies. Identifying a resurgent role for actors policy, argue that federal efforts to exert more control have many ways strengthened influence of providing avenues school districts other “non-system” players challenge traditional governance arrangements. similar vein, because government’s ability...

We examine the Los Angeles Unified School District's Public Choice Initiative (PSCI), which sought to turnaround district's lowest-performing schools. ask whether school impacted student outcomes, and what explains variations in outcomes across reform cohorts. use a Comparative Interrupted Time Series approach using administrative student-level data, following students first (1.0), second (2.0), third (3.0) cohorts of PSCI find that 1.0 schools saw no significant improvements whereas...

Purpose There is a growing consensus in education that schools can and should attend to students’ social-emotional development. Emerging research popular texts indicate mindsets, beliefs, dispositions, emotions behaviors advance outcomes, such as college readiness, career success, mental health relationships. Despite this awareness, many districts are still struggling implement strategies develop skills. The purpose of paper fill gap by examining the learning (SEL) practices ten middle with...

In recent years, some U.S. school districts have shifted away from direct management of schools, toward systems in which or all schools operate under enhanced autonomy, accountability, and parental choice. Yet dynamics driving these changes are understudied, there few comparative studies system-level governance shifts. To address gaps, we use extensive qualitative data to analyze change Los Angeles, Denver, New Orleans. Drawing on evolutionary theories, find that external crises, state...

We examine policy influencers' perceptions of the targets school-choice across five states, exploring how constructions varied for White and racially minoritized families, whether actors conceived "target" as child or parent, these racialized different types policies.

Nearly all schools in the United States closed spring 2020, at onset of COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze traditional public and charter school reopenings for 2020-21 year five urban districts. provide a rich theoretically grounded description how why educational leaders made reopening decisions each our case

Purpose: Supporting teachers’ use of data has become a large part educational leaders’ instructional leadership. Drawing on sensemaking theory, we explore how features and perceptions them may matter when teachers consider student learning data. Design: The article draws 1-year, comparative case study five low-income, high needs middle schools in three districts. Data sources include interviews with district leaders ( n = 13); school administrators, coaches, 73); focus groups 6) non–case...

Although multiple-measure teacher evaluation systems have gained popularity in the United States, few studies examined their implementation or how they are shaped by organizational context. New Orleans provides a strategic case to examine enactment of state policy highly decentralized setting with variation Utilizing multiple study approach, we analyzed documents and interviews eight schools. We found that schools varied responses evaluation—in ways were reflective, compliant, and/or...