Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
Jossey-Bass
2010
“Data-driven instruction” is such a buzz phrase in education these days that a 300-page tome on the topic might seem like overkill. Yet this book turns out to be relevant, fresh, and accessible. It explicates the data techniques that have helped Bambrick-Santoyo and his colleagues at Uncommon Schools, a major and well-regarded network of charters, produce phenomenal results with some of America’s least privileged kids. The core insight is the need for interim assessments that enable teachers and school leaders to make mid-course corrections when warranted. It also offers case studies of schools that made dramatic achievement gains after installing comprehensive data management systems. The reform community has for years jabbered about the need for more “formative” assessments; this book is a guide to creating, using, and making the most of them. The author goes so far as to suggest that assessments should essentially determine standards: “Rather than have each teacher choose a level of rigor in response to vaguely written standards, the effective data-driven school leader or teacher works to create challenging interim assessments that set a high bar for student achievement.” One hopes that the advent of new assessments aligned with the Common Core standards will make this task easier and more efficient. Add this to your list of worthy 2010 how-to manuals (see here and here) from untraditional education providers. Purchase a copy here.