“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.”
— W. Edwards Deming, late Professor at New York University’s Graduate School of Business Administration
At the Florida Charter Institute, we believe that data is not just numbers – it’s a map that guides educators in understanding every student’s journey, illuminating learning gaps, and unlocking each child’s full potential. When we harness the power of data, we turn information into inspiration and insight into impact. The education of our students is too valuable to rely on opinions as the guiding light for our decisions.
You can collect data after micro moments, like exit tickets for your class, or after macro moments, such as analyzing graduation, college enrollment, and career placement metrics each year.
In recent days, you may have received your Progress Monitoring 1 data from the state following the assessment window that closed in late September. Florida provides this valuable progress monitoring tool to support teachers in helping their students. Additionally, mid-October marks the end of a grading period, a natural moment of reflection using student grades as data. Lastly, you may be finalizing FTE to close out annual budgeting. All three of these data points come early enough in the school year to ensure that necessary pivots can be made, and that we are not waiting too long into the school year to implement them. Each of these points provides you with valuable insight. Lean into the data, collaborate with your teammates to assess where things stand, and identify how they need to change to ensure you are headed toward your goals – or to decide if those goals need to shift. Continuously reassessing your progress is pivotal for success.
To help support that success with data, check out the FCI Connect Newsletter that follows. In this newsletter, you will find the following resources to support your journey with data:
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- Steps school leaders should take post-assessments
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- How to leverage data in beginning-of-year observations
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- Data accountability with your boards
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- Upcoming webinars focused on how to use enrollment data in decision-making
The Florida Charter Institute is here as a support and resource. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about any of the information provided
