Building Capacity To Use Data

When DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Michelle Rhee was appointed in 2007, she sought to transform a chronically underperforming system into the top urban school district in the country. To accomplish this goal, she and her team conceived a theory of change supported by three key levers: instructional alignment, great people, and a focus on results.

The DCPS Office of Data and Accountability (ODA) supports the district’s focus on results by ensuring that DCPS educators have the data to make informed decisions and the tools to translate data into action. Meeting this responsibility gives DCPS the means to successfully align instruction and recruit, develop, and retain great people.

Meeting the Need

To do this work effectively, ODA needed to start by building its own staff capacity to execute critical initiatives. Carnegie Corporation of New York, which makes grants to support the development of high-performing urban school systems, provided $607,800 over two years to fund increased ODA staff capacity.

This support allowed DCPS to hire a deputy chief of assessment and accountability, a research and evaluation specialist, and a strategic initiatives analyst. This helped ODA:

• Restructure its internal management to a more efficient system, establishing two specialized deputies leading the two sides of the office’s work — data systems and assessment and accountability.
• Answer DCPS’ need for increased data analysis as it moves to a culture that uses data to drive performance.
• Create dashboards, build staff capacity to use data, and implement value-added data analysis.

The Result

DCPS has taken essential steps toward meeting its goal of becoming the highest performing urban school district in the country and closing the achievement gaps that persist along racial and socioeconomic lines.

To see ways that you can make an impact, please see Our Work.