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Toolbox
The Toolbox contains a collection of articles with practical advice for school and classroom management.
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Show Your Data
You’ve collected more data than you thought possible on indicators
of student achievement, including grade reports and standard assessments.
You already have reports on student discipline and attendance, even
the figures on teacher attendance.
Most grant applications require you to demonstrate “need.” Sure,
you “need” a vacation, but grants define the term a bit differently.
“Need,” or gap analysis, is generally considered the quantitative
distance between where your indicators are now and your target—where
you want to be.
It’s possible to show such data in a narrative: “At least
30% of ninth graders had one or more academic ‘Fs’,
thereby preventing them from earning sophomore standing.”
More effective, however, is to chart data using table tools available
in such programs as Word, Publisher, or PowerPoint.
Create columns to track performance year by year, and stack the individual
indicators in rows to show possible relationships among them. Consider
disaggregating performance data to indicate how specific populations
are faring.
Show trends across your school’s grade configurations—for
example: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Use data trends also to show what performance
history students are bringing to your school.
