On Tues. Sept. 13th, the REL Rural Working Group will be holding a webinar:
Achievement Data and Instructional Decision Making in Rural Schools and Districts
To register or for more information, visit: http://www.relnei.org/events.upcomingevents.PCWebinar_DDDM_PG_ruralSchools_09.13.2011.php
The Regional Educational Laboratory Rural Working Group invites teachers, principals, superintendents, and education administrators in rural communities—as well as other interested educators and policymakers across the nation—to a webinar highlighting research on using student achievement data to improve instruction in rural schools and districts. Since the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) a decade ago, schools and districts have faced increasing pressure to use student data to evaluate and modify instruction practices and monitor student progress. However, many teachers and educators have not been trained in how to effectively use data to inform instructional decision making. This can be especially true in rural settings, where resources and expertise to support data analysis are limited.
In this webinar, Dr. Ellen Mandinach, co-author of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Practice Guide “Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making,” will provide an overview of the critical issues related to data-driven decision making. She will present the Guide’s five evidence-based, practical recommendations and engage in a moderated discussion with panelists representing rural stakeholders regarding the implications the recommendations hold for rural schools and districts. Each panelist will provide real examples of his or her experience implementing one of the recommendations. The event will provide participants an opportunity to understand the research behind the recommendations and to engage in online conversation about applying the recommendations to the unique challenges and opportunities found in rural settings.