It’s the beginning of the new school year, and after weeks of assessments, the data is starting to pour in.
Now what?
For many school and district leaders, this fresh batch of data can feel overwhelming, especially when they’re being pulled in multiple directions. But for Kelli Eppley, Assistant Superintendent of Manville School District, it feels like Christmas morning.
“Getting the data in is kind of like Christmas morning for me. I’m actually pretty excited to get the data.”
With 25 years of experience and the support of Tutored by Teachers (TbT), Kelli sees data as an opportunity to understand where students are and get them the help they need.
In our recent Lunch & Learn, Start Strong with Beginning-of-Year (BoY), Kelli shared four ways leaders can use data with focus and intentionality to set students up for success.
Jump Ahead to the Strategies:
🔍 Prioritize What Matters
🤝 Match Students to Supports
📊 Measure Growth That Counts
⚖️ Balance Data & Insights
1. Prioritize the Right Data, Even When Everything Feels Urgent
At the start of the year, every data point feels important.
So how do you know where to begin?
Kelli starts with the most recent, local benchmark assessments like DIBELS, NWEA MAP, or i-Ready.
“The local benchmark data that we’ve just given is the most recent and is probably the freshest. And for me, it has the most importance.”
These assessments offer the clearest snapshot of where students are right now. Pair this with standardized testing results for accountability and teacher recommendations for context.
“Local benchmark data, standardized testing data, and teacher recommendations all play together to help us get kids sorted into the right spot.”
💡Pro tip: Narrow your focus to 2-3 key data points your team will rally around.
This avoids delay and ensures interventions are based on actionable insights.
2. Match Students to the Right Supports
Once you have the right data, the next step is matching students to the right interventions.
At Manville, this means trusting TbT’s virtual, high-impact tutoring to integrate within existing structures in the school day. This not only helps support what the schools are already doing but also helps avoid adding to teachers’ plates.
“We didn’t want to add another thing to our teachers’ plates. Tutoring during the school day lets our neediest students get high-impact support while teachers continue to work with other groups of students.”
Kelli also credits TbT’s Engagement Managers, like Frankee Grove, for helping her team stay on track and making integrating tutoring into the school day a breeze.
“I have the best Engagement Manager, Frankee. She’s really good at keeping me on top of things, especially in the beginning of the year, because there’s so much happening.”
💡Pro tip: Build high-impact tutoring into core instructional blocks like math or literacy centers, so students receive support seamlessly.
Check out this quick guide to setting up high-impact tutoring in your classes.
3. Measuring Impact with the Right Data
Kelli stressed the importance of tracking multiple data points over time, not just a single snapshot.
This allows her team to see how students are progressing and make informed decisions about moving students into, or out of, intensive interventions like high-impact tutoring.
“We’re all faced with limited funding. We wish we could provide interventions for every student, but we can’t. So we want to make sure the ones that we’re giving are as effective as possible.
By using multiple data points from one semester to the next, her team can make data-informed decisions that ensure students get the right support.
💡Pro tip: Use progress monitoring as a tool to continuously improve interventions.
The key is to use up-to-date data (i.e., exit tickets, weekly quizzes, NWEA MAP) to keep the groups relevant and beneficial for students.
4. Find the Right Balance Between Quantitative and Qualitative Data
One common pitfall is relying too heavily on just one type of data.
Standardized tests and benchmarks provide valuable quantitative insight, but they don’t tell the whole story. Teacher observations and anecdotal notes matter too.
“It’s like a culture change, right? To shift from, ‘we want to put this kid in tutoring because we think they would benefit’ to ‘we are putting the student in tutoring because they need an intervention based on what I see in the classroom and in the data.’”
When quantitative data and qualitative insights are combined, leaders get a more complete picture. Ignoring either can lead to ineffective interventions and missed opportunities.
💡Pro tip: Make space for teachers to share their insights during data meetings.
This gives space for their voices to be heard.
Make Using Beginning-of-Year Data Easier
BoY data can feel overwhelming, but when used the right way, it can become a powerful tool for student success.
Not everyone may feel ready to celebrate data like unwrapping a present on Christmas morning, but with a few intentional moves, leaders can get there.
👉 Watch the full webinar for more strategies on starting strong with your BoY data.
👉 Want to learn how TbT can support your school? Click here to chat.