Data-Based Decision Making

Systems-Level Data Tools: Supporting All Learners 

Secondary Education 

Secondary education requires collaboration between leadership and teachers to balance academic requirements and interventions while addressing the needs of diverse student populations, including English learners (ELs) and students with significant cognitive disabilities. Key strategies include: 

• Aligning interventions with academic requirements. 
• Creating meaningful IEP goals to reduce performance discrepancies. 
• Ensuring collaboration between general and special education for consistent implementation. 

Elementary Education 

In elementary schools, the focus is on foundational skills in reading and mathematics. Data tools help educators: 

• Use formative assessments to track and adjust instruction. 
• Implement tiered supports early to help students master core skills. 

Instructional-Level Data Tools and Progress Monitoring 

Instructional coaching provides actionable data to help educators refine their practices. Progress monitoring, particularly for students with IEPs, is essential for tracking student progress and includes: 

• Writing measurable goals based on current performance. 
• Collecting data using tools such as probes and rubrics. 
• Adjusting instruction based on progress toward goals. 

Integrating Data Tools Across All Levels 

PaTTAN’s coaching model integrates systems-level and instructional-level data tools to support educators in delivering targeted interventions that meet the diverse needs of students. These tools include PVAAS, PennData, ACCESS for ELLs, formative assessments, and DLM. 

Systems Coaching for Comprehensive Change 

Systems coaching helps school and district leaders leverage data to plan and implement MTSS frameworks that integrate academic and behavioral interventions. PaTTAN’s approach emphasizes: 

• Utilizing Data for Decision-Making: Schools assess trends, monitor progress, and make informed decisions. 
• Monitoring Implementation Fidelity: Diagnostic and benchmark data ensure that interventions are implemented with fidelity and lead to sustainable changes. 
• Creating Sustainable Solutions: Schools develop solutions informed by precise data, addressing specific needs at the school or district level. 

Instructional Coaching for Individual Educators 

At the instructional level, PaTTAN’s coaching model, based on Jim Knight’s Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching, supports teachers by: 

• Providing Actionable Feedback: Coaches use data from formative assessments and PVAAS to give teachers data-informed feedback to improve instruction. 
• Collaborative Goal-Setting: Coaches help educators set data-driven goals to drive both short- and long-term instructional improvements. 
• Ongoing Reflection: Teachers continuously reflect on and adjust their strategies using classroom-level data. 

Data Sources and Tools Supporting Our Work 

PaTTAN integrates a variety of data sources into its coaching models, including: 

• SAS Assessment Center
• PVAAS: Growth data to help districts understand how students are progressing toward proficiency. Go to PVAAS  
• Future Ready PA Index: A snapshot of academic and non-academic performance. https://futurereadypa.org/ 
• ACCESS for ELLs and Alternative ACCESS: Assessments that measure English language proficiency in ELs, including those with IEPs. WIDA LINK
• Formative, Benchmark, and Diagnostic Assessments: Provide continuous instructional adjustments based on up-to-date data. 
• Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM): An alternate assessment tool designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Go to DLM

By integrating these data tools, PaTTAN delivers impactful and customized PD and TA, improving educational practices across Pennsylvania. 

 

 

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