Current Status:
This study has been completed.
Duration:
September 2012 — September 2019
Cost:
$9,896,408
Contract Number:
ED-IES-12-C-0086
Contractor(s):
Mathematica Policy Research
Abt Associates
Synergy Enterprises
IMPAQ
Focused Schools
Contact:
Most districts help teachers use data to improve student learning, often supporting this effort with Title II, Part A funds. But many teachers feel unprepared to use student data to inform their instruction — referred to as data-driven instruction (DDI) — and there is little evidence of whether it improves student achievement. This study assessed an intensive approach to supporting teachers' use of student data to tailor their instruction. The support included funding for a data coach of the schools' choosing as well as intensive professional development for coaches and school leaders on helping teachers use student data to inform their instruction.
The study is a randomized controlled trial with a sample of 102 elementary schools in 12 districts. The study randomly assigned half of the participating schools to receive the additional DDI support. Data collection included a teacher survey, a principal survey, and student administrative records in all participating schools — including those that received the extra support and those that did not. Comparing the classroom instruction and student achievement in schools that received the additional support versus those that did not provides evidence on the effectiveness of this specific approach to providing support for DDI.
A report, titled Evaluation of Support for Using Student Data to Inform Teachers' Instruction, was released in September 2019.
A restricted-use file containing de-identified data is available for the purposes of replicating study findings and secondary analysis.