Demystifying the Data-Based Decision-Making Process

Source: Action in Teacher Education, Volume 36, Issue 5-6, 2014, pages 389-400

Across the United States, teachers and teacher educators are facing increased accountability for improved student achievement.
The process of data-based decision making is integral to performance tasks by teachers. Therefore, teacher– educators need to develop teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to collect and use data to assess their own teaching and, ultimately, improve student achievement.
In addition, these student achievement data are now also important to the accountability processes and accreditation of educator preparation programs.

This article aims to describe a conceptual model, including specific skills and processes of data-based decision making, to address accountability demands for continuous improvement based upon student learning results across multiple contexts.
Considerations for implementation by teacher educators will be shared to build a comprehensive system of sustained school reform.