The information that school administrators collect is excellent however, they usually end up keeping them in storage, literally. Accountability and assessment initiatives are forcing schools to take data out of the drawers and into the open. Some are taking this one step further by establishing school data rooms, where teachers can view student information in a well-organized and easy way.
Walls of color-coded sticky notes cover the walls of Gilliard Elementary School in Mobile, Alabama. The notes inform teachers about what their students are doing on the math and reading standards, as well as the discipline records and attendance records.
The goal is to assist teachers comprehend and address students’ needs before they get out of hand. For instance, if a child isn’t meeting the reading goals of his or her, the teacher may offer additional instruction in class or work with that student outside of school. If a child is experiencing an issue with their behavior, the teacher may recommend counseling, or even consider removing the child from class.
Baker’s strategy is to have teachers praise their students’ progress by putting data at the spotlight. In the spring of last year, a homeless student proudly announced that he had met his reading goal.
Be sure to follow FERPA guidelines and ensure your students’ privacy before making the transition to a data room. This is especially true when it comes to classroom data displays which contain sensitive information, such as counseling sessions and disciplinary actions could be accidentally exposed.
