Planning
Essential Question
What are the essential questions we want to know about our program and what people, resources, and processes need to be in place to ensure we are able to answer those questions?
Who is Involved
EPP Leadership, Data Lead
Enabling Conditions
You have questions and want to improve your programming
Before an effective data use cycle can be implemented, the program needs to carefully and deliberately reflect on the core goals and details of data use with the intention to build a culture of data use.
While planning throughout the cycle will likely be routinely revised and revisited, it is intentionally set as the first step in the cycle to address this foundational process.
Planning provides a...
- Collaborative process that includes multiple stakeholders from the educator preparation program and school district
- Documented process for both long-term and short-term value of the data in decision-making for improving candidate development and student outcomes
- Defined process for measures, instrumentation, frequency, timelines, accountability and data collection protocols
- Roadmap for training and progress monitoring to those responsible for data collection, analysis, and usage of the data
US PREP has also developed a simple tool to support your planning efforts. As a team, leverage this worksheet to identify what data you need to collect, it's source, the collection method, and collection frequency.
Measuring what needs to be measured should be carefully considered and should have broad support from all stakeholders across the educator preparation program.
To assist with considering each of these core elements, as well as providing a framework for planning activities, a list of foundational activities with accompanying examples has been provided below.
Definitions
Effective data use planning begins with defining metrics that will be collected aligned to the goals of the program and feedback expectations for candidates and teacher educators alike. These definitions will inevitably also need to align to reporting requirements, but most importantly should maintain alignment to program goals and candidate/teacher educator development. Definitions identify specific criteria within each metric and how those data points will be represented for data collection purposes. US PREP annually updates a dictionary that is used by Data Leads for candidate-level reporting. This dictionary is an excellent model for program-level definition development.
Data Lead/Manager
For US PREP reporting, a Data Lead has been identified by the program. This individual is responsible for data reporting and data use within the program as it aligns with the US PREP Coalition’s “transformed model”. Identifying a data manager is a highly recommended strategy for all programs, as it ensures a program has capacity committed to the success of the data cycle. As mentioned above, this is not the only role directly responsible for the success of the data cycle. Each stakeholder bears some responsibility, accountability, and consultation in the success of any effective data use plan. The US PREP Data Lead Job Description is updated annually to reflect both expectations and data use goals.
EPP Data Plan
The
Data Planning Worksheet serves as a formal and codified document that outlines the data plan for your program. Completing this plan promotes structure in the planning phase of the cycle. This plan can also be a reference for data collection frequencies and timelines. US PREP has also developed an EPP Data Plan that supports the development of data use objectives program wide. This EPP Data Plan can support your efforts as your complete the Data Planning Worksheet.
Why is planning within the cycle essential to DEI?
In order to meet your vision, mission, and goals as an educator preparation program, planning for data to understand the extent to which you are meeting your goals is essential. Beginning with the end in mind, planning for data collection and use is foundational to answer the questions that align with your goals. Taking time to determine what questions you need to answer and what data you need to do so helps to ensure you answer the right questions and continue to improve your program. One strategy that may be beneficial is to take a Data Walk. Data Equity Walks help activate people and create urgency around educational equity. Review the Data for Equity Model by Evident Change.
Pause and Process
At the end of each section of the US PREP Data Toolkit we will ask a few brief questions for you to consider on your journey. Once you have completed all the Pause and Process Sections, you can continue to the next step in the Data Toolkit.
