What is a Data Day?
Many schools are striving to make the connection between student data and teaching practices. It’s not enough to present test scores to teachers. You have to show them what to do with data and you have to give them time to do it. Data days are full staff-development days dedicated to organizing and analyzing student data in order to plan further instruction. You should schedule data days several times a year (maybe at the end of each quarter).

What should be accomplished?
The depth to which you can analyze student data really depends on the experience of the staff. At the most basic level, each teacher should strive to compile data for each student (maybe in an assessment notebook) and plan next steps for instruction based on the data analysis.  For example, at the end of the first quarter, teachers have received the state test results and have completed their first round of reading assessments. They bring all of this information to the Data Day.  Their work that day includes compiling all relevant data onto a Reading Data Sheet for each student and analyzing the class as a whole to determine appropriate whole-group, small-group and individual goals. 

Sample Agenda
Data Day #1
Breakfast and Reflection 7:30-8:00 
-          Now that I have assessed my students, what do I see?
-          What are the implications for teaching?
-          To what extent do I have control over the behavior and learning of my students?

READING – 8:00-10:30

1. Reading Overview
   -          understanding the five components of reading instruction
   -          reading strategies
2. Reading Data Analysis
   -          Complete a reading data sheet for each student, including information from DRA and state tests
3. Progress Monitoring
   -          system for monitoring progress
   -          dates for formal assessment and progress monitoring
4. Instructional Planning
   -          whole-group work
   -          small group work
   -          individual work

 WRITING – 10:30-1:00

    5.  Writing Overview
          - review writing cycles

6. Writing Data Analysis
   - writing data sheet for each student, using information from writing samples and national rubrics
7. Monitoring Writing Progress
   -   dates for looking at/scoring published work.
8.  Instructional Planning
   -          whole-group work
   -          small group work
   -          individual work
   
9. INTERVENTION PLANS – 1:00-3:00
   - Choose 3-5 students for whom you will create an intervention plan