Customer Reviews

Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World: Harnessing Data for School Improvement

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Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World (2006) by Earl and Katz has many strong features. Since it is not a compilation of authors, it is cohesive and easy to read. This book introduces a middle school in the beginning and takes the reader through that school's journey with data. Using the metaphor of a painter, the authors make using data compelling and emphasize the importance of asking questions about your data and developing an inquiring mind about data. Using the term "data literate," the reader comes to understand that using data effectively is a process--a long term commitment.

The book includes assignments along the way which are intended for school staffs to use and apply to their own school. This book is an excellent introduction to data, how to use data effectively, and a great place for data teams to start. There are many examples of concept maps and questioning strategies and developing hypothesis activities. The 7.5 x 10" format of the book makes it very convenient for readers to photocopy the assignment sheets, write in the margins, and use the book as a living text so that they can connect it to the work they doing in their own school. Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World is a great primer for helping teachers begin using data appropriately and effectively. Strongly Recommended.

I really enjoyed this book about school improvement. It is one that I will keep and not resell. It had some great points in it when leading a staff through the perils of selecting yearly goals.