Our Data Warehouse team is pleased to present Trumansburg Central School District (TCSD) with this month’s “School District Spotlight.” Trumansburg is a small district, located northwest of Ithaca, whose mission lends itself toward data use for all: students and staff are encouraged to be self-motivated, confident, life-long learners who work effectively toward personal and professional goals. As a district, Trumansburg has begun to create a District Dashboard, highlighting and tracking growth regarding its district goals while embracing the Data Wise Process.Data Wise Process
Trumansburg CSD Director of Instruction Sarah Vakkas and CNYRIC District Data Coordinator Michelle Robinette recently presented at the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) Conference in Lake George regarding Trumansburg’s use of the Data Wise Process from Harvard. The process includes eight steps such as Building Assessment Literacy, Digging into Student Data, and Planning to Assess Progress. The district has begun to utilize aspects of each step with the Board of Education, administrative team, and various teacher teams when analyzing state assessment results, college and career readiness aspirational measures, and other district goals and priorities. The presentation at SAANYS focused on work with the middle school staff over the past two school years regarding literacy support across the content areas.
Response to Intervention
Trumansburg is in its third year of a K-8 RTI Plan that continues to use multiple data points at least three times per year to identify students who need extra support, track progress and effectiveness of interventions, and provide teachers with actionable data that they can use to differentiate instruction. The district not only uses data from STAR Assessments, but also gathers data from other norm-referenced probes and student work samples. This enables teachers to utilize assessments for multiple purposes such as providing parents with specific feedback and aligning report cards with Common Core State Standards.
Teaching is the Core
The district is currently reviewing the K-12 assessments through the Teaching is the Core Grant. The review team consists of teachers and administrators from all three buildings. Together they are creating an action plan that highlights needed changes regarding the amount of testing and quality of assessments administered at Trumansburg. Survey data from students and teachers has been critical. The team will use its findings to create authentic assessments that align to the curriculum and that are imbedded within instruction. It is the hope that the district will create K-4, STEM - project based, and literacy 9-12 assessments for future use, ultimately eliminating some standardized tests.
Share Your Success Story
Know a district using data to improve student learning? Are YOU the type of district using data to inform decision-making and improve student outcomes? Recommend a "Featured District" so we can recognize and celebrate great work in the area of data-driven instruction! Contact Lori DeForest at ldeforest@cnyric.org.
