Back to Apply Breadcrumb Home Apply Goal #3: Improve Educational Experiences Essential Questions Identify your essential question(s) about K-12 outcomes. Select from the framework’s essential questions or draft your own. Leading with essential questions can help you understand and prioritize what data you need to collect to answer those questions. The process of defining essential questions can also be a way to bring people together to agree on shared priorities. Example For example, you want to understand, “Do students have access to quality school environments, including quality curricula and instruction, experienced teachers, effective leaders, and adequate funding?” Indicators Once you have identified your essential question(s), assess what data (indicators and metrics) you need to answer the question(s). What data can you already access? For which indicators would you need additional information? Example For example, to answer the question above, you would need data on access to quality, culturally responsive curricula; teacher experience; effective program and school leadership; and expenditures per student. Disaggregates Disaggregate data to understand trends and patterns. Breaking data down by different populations, system conditions, or experiences can help data users assess disparities, expose hidden trends, and make informed decisions that lead to more equitable outcomes. Example For example, if you are interested in the extent to which different types of schools offer quality environments, you might disaggregate data by K-12 school type. Or if you are interested in the extent to which students from low-income households have access to quality school environments, you might disaggregate data by income level. Evidence-based Practices Once you have collected and analyzed data to understand trends and patterns, use this information to select evidence-based practices to improve supports or outcomes related to your essential question(s). Using data to guide your selection of practices can help you make choices that meet the unique needs and opportunities in your community. Image Example For example, if the data show that students have access to experienced teachers and effective leaders, but not high-quality curricula, you could advocate for or implement an evidence-based curriculum. Example Equitable Data Practices Collaborate with in-school and school-adjacent community members—such as school social workers, parents, and district leaders—to select evidence-based practices to address disparities. Example evidence-based practices for improving educational experiences might include intensive, individualized support for students off track on early warning indicators or SEL curricula and programs (Data Equity Principle 4).Use qualitative data, such as interview or focus group data, to support your interpretation of quantitative data by capturing additional insights and ensuring students' voices are reflected in research findings (Data Equity Principle 5).Communicate findings to data providers in a format that is actionable and useful for improving educational practices. For example, share findings about school climate with educators, school social workers, and other support staff, using visualizations that can be easily interpreted and used to guide action (Data Equity Principle 6 and Data Equity Principle 7). Looking for Data? To identify readily available data or explore how to collect your own data on improving educational experiences, explore the external data sources suggested below—and don’t forget to seek out state and local data sources that are unique to your community.Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) – U.S. Department of Education. The CRDC is a biennial survey required by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The CRDC collects data from a universe of all public local educational agencies and schools, including justice facilities, charter schools, and alternative schools. It focuses on civil rights indicators related to access and barriers to educational opportunities from early childhood through grade 12.College Scorecard – U.S. Department of Education. This tool aims to help students of all ages, families, educators, counselors, and other college access professionals make data-informed decisions when choosing a college or university to attend. The College Scorecard offers increased transparency about the benefits and costs of higher education by publishing data on college costs, student debt, graduation rates, admissions test scores and acceptance rates, student body diversity, post-college earnings, and more.ED School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) – National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). NCES has developed high-quality adaptable School Climate Surveys to help states, localities, and schools collect and report on reliable, nationally validated school climate data. Surveys can be administered through the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) web-based platform to middle and high school students, families, and school staff. Educational entities store their own data locally, and ED does not have access to these data.Launch Guide for Collecting Curriculum Selection Data – Center for Education Market Dynamics. Developed by the Center for Education Market Dynamics, this guide is designed for leaders in state education agencies who are interested in collecting curriculum selection data from school districts. It includes strategy questions, conversation starters, and useful tools to kick-start data collection efforts and maximize effectiveness.