New
Brief from Data Quality Campaign, Learning Heroes and National PTA highlights how
to more effectively report data on student groups
WASHINGTON (October 29, 2019) – Families and communities
deserve to know whether their local schools are serving the needs of every
student. But 41 states failed to include student performance information for at
least one federally required student group on their report cards, and many did
not include contextual language necessary for users to understand why the data
is useful and how to use it. Without access to disaggregated data – information
about student performance broken down by different student groups – that is
easy to access and interpret, families and parents can’t understand how
different groups of students are being served or act on that information.
A new brief from the Data Quality Campaign (DQC), Learning
Heroes and National PTA, “Disaggregated Data: Not Just a Box Checking
Exercise,” underscores that disaggregated data is not only essential for
understanding how schools serve different groups of students, but also key to
identifying opportunity gaps and confronting persistent barriers to student success.
State leaders must make sure that families have the data they deserve to ensure
that their students get a high-quality, equitable education.
“States must recognize that publicly sharing this
information isn’t just a federal requirement, it’s a moral imperative. It
shouldn’t fall to parents to find and decipher this information about how
schools are serving their children,” said DQC President and CEO Jennifer
Bell-Ellwanger. “Families and communities deserve this information – and
failing to publicly share it represents a fundamental lack of transparency. As
states continue to improve their state-level report cards, they have an
obligation to show families and communities that state leaders know this
information is valuable and that they want to share it with those who need it
to make the right decisions for students.”
State leaders also need to consider their audience when
talking about school and student data, as terms like “disaggregation” and “subgroup”
can be unfamiliar and even offensive. The brief urges state leaders to consider
replacing the outdated term “subgroups” with “groups of students” and defining
disaggregation as information broken down by different student groups.
"From our extensive research among a diverse set of
parents and guardians, we’ve clearly heard that disaggregated data without
specific context around the purpose and intended use is often misinterpreted by
parents as an exercise in shaming," said Learning Heroes Founder and
President Bibb Hubbard. “The purpose behind the data is to ensure all student
groups' needs are being met, and that context is critical. We've been
encouraged by the states that have already led the way and look forward to many
more to follow.”
State leaders can communicate the value of disaggregated
data by:
· making
the data easier to find on school report cards
– their most public-facing resource on school quality; and
· adding
context for the data, including more complete explanations
so that users understand why it is being shared and how they could use it to
advocate for their students and schools.
“Parents want and deserve meaningful data and transparency
on how schools are educating students like theirs. Being empowered with this
information is critical to ensure their child is provided a high-quality
education and opportunities to reach their full potential,” said National PTA
President Leslie Boggs. “It is essential that states make sure report cards and
data are accessible and understandable to parents and ensure that schools are
held accountable for providing all students with the high-quality education
they deserve.”
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About the Data
Quality Campaign
The Data Quality Campaign is a nonprofit policy and advocacy
organization leading the effort to bring every part of the education community
together to empower educators, families, and policymakers with quality
information to make decisions that ensure that students excel. For more
information, go to www.dataqualitycampaign.org
and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@EdDataCampaign).
About Learning Heroes
Learning Heroes
informs and equips parents to support their children’s academic and
developmental success. Through unprecedented parent research, development of
research-based communications, and partnerships with local and national
organizations (including local and state education agencies, civil rights
organizations, parent organizations, and more), we work to give parents a more
accurate and complete picture of their child’s achievement so they can better
advocate on behalf of their child. For more information, visit www.bealearninghero.org.
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families,
students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted
to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement
in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides
itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for
families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.
Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a
difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For
more information, visit PTA.org.
