Being Data Driven

I attended a training yesterday for the software my district uses to collect data on test scores and learning standards. The district I work in uses a program called Aware, and after yesterday's training I am a proponent of the program. Aware collects data on TAKS test scores, school benchmarks, and then correlates the results to specific learning standards that teachers should be covering and students should be learning. You can look at results from test scores by teacher groups, by various student populations served, or you can look at individual students scores. You can run reports to show teachers what learning standards the students in their classes are passing on benchmark tests and then plan interventions accordingly.
Our presenter said when she began working as the data controller for her previous school district all of these reports and tests were sent off to companies who compiled information based on what they thought a school might want to know. She said she would receive reports back after benchmarks and it would take her weeks to prepare information that the teachers in her school could actually use. Needless to say, she LOVES the aware software.
She loves it because it allows you to target the problem areas. A teacher is no longer left guessing about what his or her students need assistance with or reteaching on. You can look up specific SEs and see how your class performed. We were told anything below a 70% is something that needs to be retaught. But, it's a specific standard not a huge chunk of information. I was very impressed. Schools are becoming increasingly data driven and this software / program allows a district the ability to target interventions and tutorial sessions to be the most effective.