Trend and Data Analysis of Homeschooling

In: Academic leadership

Abstract

Since the inception of the No Child Left Behind legislation, school districts have been faced with agrowing need to gather, analyze and monitor more data than ever before in their leadership of schools(Blink, 2007; Kowalski, Lasley & Mahoney, 2008; Mills, 2006). The adage that schools are "data rich"and "information poor", while comical, is often true. School systems are awash in data and drowning isa real concern for new and soon-to-be leaders. The critical task for school leaders is to turn existingstudent achievement data into a format that lends itself to answering questions and improvingoutcomes for the students. Common barriers to transforming data into knowledge in educationalsettings often include poorly designed or non-existent data systems, disorganized record management,and temperamental gatekeepers who withhold data to preserve power, or personnel who simply fail toask the right questions of the available data (Mills, 2006). Using data effectively does not require greatstatistical knowledge or high-priced analytical tools. It simply requires a desire to improve outcomes forstudents, staff, and school and a willingness to stop doing the same things and hoping for a differentoutcome (aka superstitious behavior). The ultimate goal for the training program delivered to studentsin the Masters in School Administration (MSA) program was to empower future principals to have theknowledge and skills to go beyond the usage of static reports and simple data views to develop skilland understanding of data as a dynamic entity to help support their leadership focus.