The Data Informed District: A District-Wide Evaluation of Data Use in the Natrona County School District
An examination of data use in the 11,500-student Natrona County school district in Casper, Wyo., found that computer data systems were not integrated and connected, preventing them from sharing and analyzing important data.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, found that data accuracy was also a problem, prompting some school officials to be distrustful of district data.
For the district to become a more effective user of data, the study recommends that officials craft a vision for the use of data, integrate computer systems, and provide more training to staff in the use of data. Taking those steps would help the district to more easily monitor and analyze student dropout data, inform the public about the status of education in the district, and target students who need additional help, it says.
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