AP Data-Driven Decision Making Flashcards

Which data analysis skill is MOST important for an assistant principal to model for staff?

Answer: Asking questions that uncover patterns, causes, and implications in the data

Modeling inquiry-based questions teaches staff how to think analytically about data rather than just consume reports.

A school's MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) team reviews progress monitoring data. What is the team's PRIMARY goal?

Answer: Determining whether current interventions are accelerating student growth and adjusting as needed

Progress monitoring within MTSS exists to ensure interventions are working and to make timely adjustments when they are not.

Which of the following is a potential risk when relying too heavily on a single standardized test score to make high-stakes decisions?

Answer: Construct-irrelevant variance and test bias can make scores unreliable indicators of true student ability

Standardized tests contain measurement error and potential bias, making a single score an insufficient basis for high-stakes decisions.

An assistant principal wants to measure school climate. Which approach produces the MOST valid data?

Answer: Administering validated school climate surveys to students, staff, and families

Validated surveys with multiple respondent groups capture school climate systematically and reliably across the school community.

When creating a data dashboard for staff, the assistant principal should prioritize displaying:

Answer: A focused set of key indicators directly linked to school improvement goals

Focused dashboards tied to improvement goals prevent data overload and keep staff attention on what matters most.

An assistant principal shares student outcome data publicly without removing personally identifiable information. This action potentially violates:

Answer: FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

FERPA prohibits the disclosure of personally identifiable student information without parental consent or a qualifying exception.