Report: Montana does poor job tracking student performance

Montana ranks near the bottom nationally on using data to track student performance in public schools, says a report released Thursday – but an ongoing data-warehouse project will greatly improve the state’s standing, education officials said.

Madalyn Quinlan, chief of staff for state Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, said the state began loading data into its new system this fall and plans to have it operating by the end of next year.

"When we have a fully operational, statewide data system, we will be able to know how well programs and course offerings for students at all grade levels prepare them for the next grade up … and from high school to college, and college to career," she said.

The project is being funded by a $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, awarded in 2009.

By MIKE DENNISON Missoulian State Bureau

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/report-montana-does-poor-job-tracking-student-performance/article_5ecdd336-1c93-11e1-8e77-0019bb2963f4.html

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States make strides in collecting education data

Annual report indicates that many states still have room to improve

Full Story: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/12/02/states-make-strides-in-collecting-education-data/

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Palm Beach County School District’s BI Program Establishes a Performance-Driven Culture

The School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC), the 11th largest school district in the United States, recognized an urgent need to enhance its reporting environment to improve student achievement, and to enable data-driven decision making throughout the organization. Read this case study and see how the SDPBC was able to build a data warehouse and establish a performance-driven culture among all teachers and administrators who now rely on this data to make informed decisions.

Full Story: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/11/01/palm-beach-county-school-districts-bi-program-establishes-a-performance-driven-culture/