Board members help to shape the future of education in local educational agencies throughout California. Integrating high-quality data into decision-making processes ensures these decisions lead to effective outcomes for every student. Board decisions impact policies, budgets, superintendent oversight, facilities, school safety and community engagement and governance teams should adopt curricula and instruction and set academic goals using data-driven approaches. This enhances governance, supports informed decision-making and drives significant educational improvements.

Effective governance teams set clear, measurable goals and approve curricula that meet state requirements. They use historical data and projections to set objectives and regularly assess progress by comparing outcomes to these goals. While boards benefit from understanding academic content standards and statewide assessments that monitor student performance in California, the volume of data can be overwhelming.

To make this data more accessible, effective boards request that staff produce robust visual displays that are understandable to the community. One powerful tool is scale scores, which can be disaggregated by student groups and specific skills within English language arts or math assessments. Each scale score represents approximately one learning unit, from third- through 11th-grade assessments.

Boards can request visual data representations of scale-score growth for student groups over time, allowing them to identify trends, compare outcomes across schools and pinpoint areas needing attention. This data can be used to set measurable goals and gauge the effectiveness of current programs. By adopting these strategies, governance teams can foster a culture of data-driven decision-making that continuously seeks to improve student achievement and educational equity.

Action items for governance teams:

1. Set clear and measurable goals:

• Establish specific, quantifiable objectives aligned with state standards and LEA priorities.
• Use historical data and projections to inform goal setting.

2. Request and utilize visual data displays:

• Ask staff to present data in accessible, visual formats.
• Focus on scale scores and growth metrics to monitor student progress.

3. Regularly assess and compare data:

• Schedule periodic reviews of student performance data.
• Compare outcomes across different schools and student groups to identify trends and disparities.

4. Engage in data-driven decision-making:

• Use data insights to make informed decisions about curriculum, instruction and resource allocation.
• Adjust strategies and interventions based on data to improve student outcomes.

5. Seek training and support from CSBA:

• CSBA’s training programs can help to enhance your understanding and use of academic data.
• Attend workshops and seminars focused on data-driven governance and decision-making.

By adopting these practices, governance teams ensure their decisions are informed, strategic and focused on enhancing student achievement and educational equity. CSBA is here to support trustees through comprehensive training and resources to navigate the complexities of academic data and drive meaningful improvements in their districts.