PCP Data-Driven Decision Making 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A principal wants to identify students at risk of not meeting grade-level benchmarks early in the year. Which type of assessment is MOST useful?
- Universal screening assessment (Correct answer)
- Summative assessment
- Portfolio assessment
- Norm-referenced standardized test
Correct answer: Universal screening assessment
Universal screenings are administered to all students early in the year to quickly identify those who need additional support before they fall further behind.
Question 2: Which data source best helps a principal evaluate whether instructional strategies are equitably effective across student subgroups?
- Disaggregated achievement data by subgroup (Correct answer)
- Overall school average test scores
- Teacher attendance records
- Parent satisfaction surveys
Correct answer: Disaggregated achievement data by subgroup
Disaggregating data by subgroup (race, income, disability status, etc.) reveals gaps that are hidden in overall averages, enabling equity-focused interventions.
Question 3: A principal reviews data showing high chronic absenteeism rates among 9th graders. What should be the principal's FIRST step?
- Investigate root causes by analyzing attendance patterns and talking to students and families (Correct answer)
- Immediately suspend chronically absent students
- Report all absent students to the state department of education
- Increase homework assignments to motivate attendance
Correct answer: Investigate root causes by analyzing attendance patterns and talking to students and families
Effective data-driven leadership requires understanding the root causes behind a data trend before selecting an intervention strategy.
Question 4: Which statistical measure tells a principal how much student scores vary around the average?
- Standard deviation (Correct answer)
- Mean
- Median
- Mode
Correct answer: Standard deviation
Standard deviation measures the spread of scores around the mean, indicating whether student performance is clustered tightly or widely distributed.
Question 5: A principal uses benchmark assessment data to adjust instructional pacing mid-year. This practice is BEST described as:
- Formative use of data to inform instruction (Correct answer)
- Summative evaluation of program effectiveness
- Accountability reporting to the state
- Norm-referencing student performance
Correct answer: Formative use of data to inform instruction
Using interim or benchmark data to make real-time instructional adjustments is the defining characteristic of formative data use.
Question 6: Which data inquiry protocol is commonly used by school leadership teams to collaboratively analyze student work and assessment results?
- Data Wise Improvement Process (Correct answer)
- Individual Education Plan (IEP) review
- Annual Title I needs assessment
- Curriculum mapping
Correct answer: Data Wise Improvement Process
The Data Wise Improvement Process provides a structured, collaborative protocol for examining data and translating findings into instructional improvements.
PCP Data-Driven Decision Making 1
A principal wants to identify students at risk of not meeting grade-level benchmarks early in the year.
Which type of assessment is MOST useful?