How data and observation tools built for education help inform decision-making
Though the worst of the Covid-19 crisis is hopefully behind us, its impact on education continues. The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) implemented a continuous improvement model across the state to encourage schools and districts to improve outcomes regardless of their academic achievement.
Looking to improve outcomes for all students, ALSDE embarked on a mission to support schools and systems in developing continuous improvement plans. Given the state’s longstanding relationship with Cognia, ALSDE adopted Cognia’s research-based continuous improvement framework and platform. The framework outlines the steps in developing an effective continuous improvement plan that articulates short (1 year) and long-term (up to 5 years) objectives and strategies. It is backed with digital resources, such as observation tools and surveys, that help identify these objectives and yields multiple sources of data to measure success. ALSDE reports an uptick in stakeholder engagement and more focused conversations about goals and equitable outcomes since implementing Cognia’s framework and tools.