1
Without accurate data to describe whether
children are learning

• a superintendent or board is hard pressed to
  explain the difference between the activities
  occurring in the district and the progress being
  made.
• Its like an octopus on roller skates
• theres a whole lot of motion, but no
  guarantee that you are moving in any particular
  direction. Supt. Gerrita Postlewait

2
Improving School Board Decision Making
Accountability

• NSBA Annual Conference
• April 5, 2001 New Orleans
• Linda J. Dawson, president
• The Aspen Group International, Inc.
• Project Director, NSBF Data Connection

3
Discussion Questions

• What is your greatest fear about using data and
  why?
• 2. What is your greatest hope for your board in
  using good data?
• 3. What do you need to learn about data to be
  more effective?

4
Getting Started Our Objectives

1. Plan for focusing your board and aligning your
   district on student achievement
2. Learn about data, how to ask for it, how to use
   it for accountability community-wide
3. Practical test case for using data

5
The Boards Role in Student Performance

• 1. VISION Build a community- based vision for
  student achievement
• STRUCTURE Ensure policies, operational plan and
  resources are in place to support vision
• ACCOUNTABILITY USE DATA TO ENSURE REASONABLE
  PROGRESS IS BEING MADE
• 4. ADVOCACY Support district efforts for
  improvement throughout community

6
The only justifiable reason for organizational
existence is the production of worthwhile
results. Worthwhile results always relate to
the satisfaction of human need. Whose needs,
which needs, and what constitutes satisfaction
are the unending, subjective quandaries
confronting a board. Resolving the important,
even existential value dilemmas inherent in these
questions, is the very heart of leadership in
governance. J. Carver
7
Vision Leaders

• Set Goals with Stakeholders in your Community
• Draft Mission and Goals
• Link with Community
• Asking Great Questions
• Revise Goals and Direct Staff to Achieve

8
Readiness Checklist

• We have
• A written mission statement focused on student
  achievement?
• Stated goals that are tied to our mission?
• An expectation that everything we do, staff does,
  aligns with our mission?
• An awareness that data will tell us if the
  mission is being accomplished?

9
Vision Handouts

• Sample mission statement worksheet
• Sample statements from Fargo, North Dakota

10

• Do we want schools to continue merely adopting
  innovations? Or do we want schools to improve?
• If we collectively focus on goals and regularly
  measure the impact of methods, then we will get
  results.
• Mike Shmoker

11
Structure to Achieve

1. Goals defined to achieve mission and put into
   policy.
2. Administration responds to goals with strategies.
   
3. Expectations of Instructional Program put into
   written policy and monitored.

12
Structure Handouts

• 1. Developing Goals/End Results
• Directing development of Strategies
• Sample from Fargo, North Dakota
• Policies on Instructional Program

13
Accountability

• 1. Do you know your data?
• valid
• reliable
• understandable
• varied measures
• authentic comparisons
• longitudinal

14
Readiness Checklist

• Do you have
• 1. Data on student performance
• related to goals?
• 2. Disaggregated data?
• 3. Use data to plan staff
• development and staff
• performance pay?
• 4. Assessments based on district
• standards?
• 5. Assessment programs with
• multiple measures?
• 6. Staff use data to inform
• instructional decisions?

15
Accountability Handouts

1. Match Definitions
2. How Boards Ask for Data
3. Data to Track Student Performance
4. What is Disaggregated Data?
5. What ?s to Ask When Presented with Data
6. Sample Indicators Fargo, ND
7. Board Member Code of Conduct
8. Superintendent Summative Evaluation

16
Advocacy

• We know that when individuals work together
  effectively, the product of their efforts will
  almost always be superior to the efforts of a
  single individual.
• The Key Work of School Boards

17

• There is a defining moment at hand, a rising
  opportunity to rebuild the partnership among
  schools, parents and citizens that can renew a
  civic responsibility for public education.
• Annenberg Institute for School Reform

18
Readiness Checklist

• Do you have a schedule for linking with the
  community?
• Have you established data to show student
  performance strengths and weaknesses?
• Can you ask for partnerships to help realize
  student goals?

19
Advocacy Handouts

• 1. Gathering Data in Your
• Community
• 2. Typical Linkage Groups
• 3. Setting Up Linkages
• 4. Community Group Linkage ?s
• 5. Student Linkage ?s
• 6. Securing Commitments in
• Rochester
• 7. How to Think About Data
• 8. Step by Step Calendar

20

• The best way to persuade people is with your
  ears by listening to them!
• Dean Rusk
• former US Secretary of State

21
Resources

• Documents not in the book and Training
  PowerPoint
• www.schoolboarddata.org
• Order books/video
• Inez Simonin at 703.838.6758
• Questions/Training
• Linda J. Dawson 303.478.0125 aspen_at_aspengroup.org
  
• On-Line Course