Using Data to Close the Achievement Gap : How to Measure Equity in Our Schools

by Ruth S. Johnson

• ISBN13: 9780761945093
• ISBN10: 0761945091
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-25
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

This updated edition of Setting Our Sights outlines the five stages for equity reform while clearly explaining research findings and offering practical tools and examples. 

Table of Contents

Foreword: A Strategy to Challenge Inequality	xi
Anne Wheelock
Introduction	xv
New to the Second Edition	xvii
Acknowledgments	xix
About the Author	xxi
Part I. Setting Our Sights on Student Achievement	1	(68)
The Achievement Gap: Framing Our Minds to Set Our Sights	3	(10)
The Achievement Gap	4	(1)
Some Other Considerations	5	(1)
Rethinking the Issues: Creating the Conditions for Moving Forward	6	(4)
Stages in the Change Process: How Data Offer Help and Hope	10	(3)
Building Dissatisfaction and Killing the Myths: Examining Data as a First Step Toward Motivating Reform	13	(21)
The Broader Picture: Societal Implications of Undereducating Certain Populations	16	(6)
Similar Aspirations, Unequal Chances: Data to Dispel Myths and Demonstrate Differential Expectations and Learning Opportunities for Students	22	(1)
Who Has the Opportunity to Go to College?	23	(5)
Changing Practices and Achievement Patterns: Exploding Myths That Perpetuate Underachievement	28	(6)
Data in the Reform Process: How and Why	34	(19)
Key Roles for Data	36	(1)
Assessing Data Use and Access	37	(4)
Stages of the Data User Process	41	(9)
Using Technology to Make Strong Presentations	50	(3)
Building Leadership and Data Teams	53	(16)
Establishing the Need: A First Step for Highly Resistant Schools	54	(1)
Creating the Team: The First Step in Most Schools	55	(1)
The Role of the Leadership Team	55	(1)
Structuring the Leadership Team's Work	56	(1)
Team Development	57	(1)
The Data Team: Core to the School's Success in Using Data to Achieve Reform	58	(1)
Planning for Team Success: Team Self-Assessment of Strengths and Needs	59	(4)
Assessing Perspectives of Team Effectiveness	63	(4)
Planning for Team Leadership Development	67	(2)
Part II. Inquiring About Equity	69	(202)
Talking About Data	71	(12)
Why the Need for Dialogue	72	(2)
Guiding the Dialogue	74	(8)
Outcomes From Dialogues	82	(1)
Conducting the Inquiry: Measurement Dimensions and Approaches	82	(1)
Examining Outcomes	83	(43)
Looking at the Big Picture	84	(1)
Outcome Data From Standardized Test Scores: Peeling the Data	85	(13)
Standardized Tests for College Going	98	(5)
Monitoring Student Grades	103	(8)
Displaying Middle and High School Course Enrollment and Student Overall Progress in College Preparatory Courses	111	(5)
Outcomes: Student Graduation Rates	116	(3)
College-Going Rates	119	(6)
Nonacademic Measures Related to Outcomes	125	(1)
Assessing Policies and Practices	126	(53)
Part I: Instruments	128	(1)
Assessing Perceptions of Attitudes, Readiness, and Commitment to Reform at the School	128	(8)
Process Indicators	136	(7)
Assessing Institutional Reform in the Academic Culture of Schools	143	(9)
Other Instruments to Assess Equity	152	(1)
Schools' and Districts' Assessments of Delivery of Precollege Guidance	152	(2)
Characteristics of High-Performing and Low-Performing Counseling Programs	154	(3)
Counselor College Preparatory Record Keeping for Individual Students	157	(1)
Which Counselors Are Providing College Access to Students?	157	(3)
Counselor's Plans for Counselees	160	(2)
Part II: Existing School Documents	162	(1)
How Does the Master Schedule Reflect Practices and Goals?	162	(4)
Assessing Documents, Policies, and Practices on How Time Is Used	166	(1)
Examining School Calendars	167	(1)
Teacher Plan Books	167	(1)
Part III: Assessing Equitable Classroom Practices	167	(2)
Survey-The Equitable School Classroom	169	(6)
Teacher Observations	175	(2)
Observing Students in Class and School	177	(1)
Parent and Student Information	178	(1)
Listening to Student and Parent Voices	179	(19)
Student and Parent-Guardian Questionnaires	180	(14)
Aspirations and Reality	194	(3)
Listening to Students' Voices Regarding the Academic Culture of the School	197	(1)
Evaluating Programs and Interventions	198	(20)
Analyses of Efforts to Raise Student Achievement	200	(4)
Assessing Elementary Programs and Practices	204	(4)
Assessing the Improvement of College Preparation and College-Going Rates	208	(8)
Professional Development	216	(2)
Using School Indicators to Answer Critical Questions	218	(31)
How and When to Gather Indicators	219	(1)
Combining Indicators to Answer Critical Questions	220	(19)
Sample Indicator Combinations	239	(10)
Will We Know It When We See It? Visioning, Planning, and Implementation	249	(22)
We Want Our School to Look Like This	252	(4)
Plan for Schoolwide Reform	256	(8)
Will We Know It When We See It? Monitoring for Progress	264	(1)
Planning for Monitoring	265	(2)
Plan for Monitoring the Improvement of College Preparation and College-Going Rates	267	(1)
The Role of the External Resource Person	267	(4)
Resources for Equitable School Reform	271	(9)
Bibliography	280	(15)
References	295	(8)
Index	303