What Data Can Tell Us – and What It Can’t: How to Be Sure We Know What Our Data Means

Validity is about more than results—it is determined by the question asked, the data collection design, and analysis. In this session, presenters led a discussion on what the data can, and cannot, say about outcomes, using examples from a selection of Part B and Part C indicators. Questions posed included: What is the difference between student outcomes and program performance? Can your data tell you which states, districts, or programs are performing better? What policy questions would you like to know about that your data currently cannot answer?

2015 OSEP Leadership Conference - July 27 - 29, 2015