Read the Brief. > For more information on this report, please contact Paul Reville.
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New policy brief from the Rennie Center highlights urban teachers' use of data

The Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy has published a policy brief titled, Data-Driven Teaching: Tools and Trends, focused on three district-based data anaylsis programs that highlights the policy and practice challenges associated with their use. More important, it provides educators and policymakers with guiding questions to assist in the selection of data analysis programs. The brief makes critical recommendations for district and state level policymakers seeking to move toward including data analysis as part of teachers' daily practice.

"In the current era of accountability, teachers' need for accurate and timely data is greater than ever," according to Paul Reville, president of the Rennie Center. "The state should be playing a major leadership role in seeing that teachers get the data they need to improve student learning."

Drawing on research with teachers, principals and superintendents in three urban districts, the Rennie Center's brief recommends that policymakers at both the state and district levels provide teachers with more time and support for the integration of data into their instructional planning.

"It's not enough to simply provide teachers with student data a frequent intervals," according to Paul Reville. "If teachers are going to make effective use of data to improve their teaching, they must have adequate time built into their schedules to allow them to collaborate and use that data."

The full version of the policy brief is available online at www.renniecenter.org.

About the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy
The Rennie Center's mission is to develop a public agenda that informs and promotes significant improvement of public education in Massachusetts. Our work is motivated by a vision of an education system that creates the opportunity to educate every child to be successful in life, citizenship, employment and life-long learning. Applying nonpartisan, independent research, and civic engagement, the Rennie Center is creating a civil space to foster thoughtful public discourse to inform and shape effective policy. Visit our web site for more information: www.renniecenter.org.