Districts should strive to develop and maintain a high-quality districtwide data system to provide stakeholders with information necessary for timely, data-driven decisions. A high-quality system integrates data from multiple sources for reporting and analysis. To meet the needs of a wide range of audiences, a district data system advisory council comprising a variety of stakeholders should be involved in determining the district’s requirements and selecting and implementing the new system. Districts and schools need to secure financial and human resources to develop data protection safeguards and ensure that data are timely, relevant, and useful to educators.
Although districts can benefit from a comprehensive data system, some districts may experience limited resources to purchase or build such a system. Districts are encouraged to seek out collaborations with other districts, local nonprofits or other entities that could assist in obtaining and/or developing a data system. If districts prioritize the use of student data to meet educational improvement goals, a data system needs to also be a priority.
