Getting Data Teams Started
in
Small School Districts
Small School Data Team Restrictions
• One teacher per grade level (elem.) or content
area (middle & high school)
• Validity and reliability of data due to smaller
group size
Small School Data Team Advantages
• Cross-curricular or grade level conversations
about student data.
• Able to discuss curriculum vertical alignment
issues/concerns
• Lends team structure to be content driven (for
example: writing team, math team, etc)
Initial Steps
• Meet with principal ahead of time to discuss
group structure and time available for teams
to meet.
• Frontload sessions for whole staff
1. Data analysis principles and tools!
2. Data Team Process Training
•
•
•
Data team five step process
Schedule data team meeting time
Begin meeting one
Data Team Organization Structures
District A
K-12 School
146 Students
• 5 elem. teachers
• 7 middle & high school
teachers
Teams
K-6- Reading Focus
– Four K-6 teachers, Title I
teacher
6-12- Math Focus
– 6th, 7-12th grade teachers,
science teacher, P.E./Health
teacher
7-12- Language Arts Focus
– Two 7-12th grade L.A. teachers,
social studies teacher
District B
K-8 Elem.
205 Students
• 7 elem. teachers
• 3 middle school teachers
Teams
K-3- Reading Focus
– Four K-3 teachers, Title I
teacher, principal
4-8- Writing Focus
– Five 4-8th grade teachers,
principal
Data Team Organization Structures
District C
K-6 Elem.
58 Students
• 5 elem. teachers
Teams
K-6 Reading Focus
– Four K-6 teachers, Title I
teacher
Data Team Organization Structures
District D
K-4
185 Students
• 11 teachers (2 per grade level)
Teams
K-2 Reading/Math/Writing
– Five K-2 teachers, two Title One
teachers, Reading coach, principal
– team meets separately for each
content area, rotating weekly
3-4 Reading/Math/Writing
– Four 3-4 teachers, two title one
teachers, reading coach, principal
– Team meets separately for each
content area, rotating weekly
District D
182 Students
• 10 teachers
Teams
4-8 Reading Focus
– Five 4-8 teachers, Title One
teacher, principal
4-8 Math Focus
– Four 4-8 teachers, Title One
teacher, principal
4-8
Data Team Organization Structures
District D
195 Students
• 10 teachers
Teams
Reading
High School
– Language Arts teacher,
counselor, Agriculture teacher
Writing
– Language Arts, SPED, Art, two
Social Studies teachers,
principal
Math
– Two math, music, and science
teachers
**District D high school
data teams are organized
with an essential skills
focus. Teams are working
on whole school strategies
to prepare students to meet
essential skills for
graduation.
Scheduled Meeting Time
• All four school districts are on a four day
school week
• Whole staff trainings administered onsite
during an in-service Friday. Apx. 2-3 hours.
Data Teams Meet
District A
After School
Day
X
Friday
X
Frequency
1-2 times
monthly
District B
District C
X
2 times a
month
District D
X
X
X
Monthly
2 times a
month
Validity and Reliability of Data
Teachers WILL say, “this is such a small group size, how can
we rely on this data to be accurate and use it to make
decisions!”
• During data analysis training, intentionally discuss
validity and reliability of data in relation to small group
size.
• Strong emphasis on using OAKS Strand data to
spotlight strengths/weakness, but do not make
instructional decisions from data. But to use
local/classroom data to make instructional decisions.
• Use national/benchmark norms when analyzing data.