I love data. I love the patterns. I love the disaggregation. I love it when it points us in the right direction. And, I especially love it when it’s wrong. It’s like real world Craps.

But there are some problems with the way we use data in schools. Here is the biggest one.

Almost every educator believes that student performance data is about students. It is not.

Student performance data is about adults. It is about Federal, State and Local Policy. It’s is about family wealth. It’s about campus instructional tools and infrastructure. It’s about educator attitude, opinions and practice.

Which means you can use your data to sort kids, which is the education equivalent to shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.

Or, you can use your data to change adult practice. A lot harder, but a whole lot more impactful.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…

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