SLLA Data-Informed Decision Making 4

Question 1

Which question represents a SMART goal appropriately grounded in data?

Accepted Answer

We will increase the percentage of 3rd graders reading on grade level from 58% to 70% by May 2027.

Answer

A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — the third option meets all these criteria.

Question 2

A school's average ACT composite score rose from 19.2 to 19.8 over two years. Before celebrating, a data-savvy leader should FIRST ask:

Accepted Answer

Did the demographic composition of test-takers change over those two years?

Answer

Changes in who takes the test (e.g., fewer lower-scoring students testing) can produce score gains that don't reflect real instructional improvement.

Question 3

Which data visualization type is BEST suited for showing the distribution of student scores and identifying outliers?

Accepted Answer

Box-and-whisker plot

Answer

A box-and-whisker plot displays the median, quartiles, and outliers simultaneously, making score distribution and outliers immediately visible.

Question 4

In a professional learning community (PLC), the MOST productive data question to ask about student work is:

Accepted Answer

What does the student work tell us about what students understand and where they are still confused?

Answer

Analyzing student work for evidence of understanding and misconceptions drives instructional decision-making in a PLC.

Question 5

A state's standardized assessment uses a scaled score rather than a raw score. The PRIMARY advantage of a scaled score is that it:

Accepted Answer

Allows valid comparisons across different test forms and years

Answer

Scaled scores equate different test forms to a common scale, enabling fair comparisons across testing years and versions.

SLLA Test Practice Test