Data-based decision making refers to collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to drive school improvement. This can apply to any level of the school from individual students to the entire system. When applied to the field of secondary transition, it refers to using data to drive decisions to improve the in-school and post-school success of…

Each year, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) releases a list of scientific advances that represent significant progress in the field of autism research. The "Summary of Advances" provides short, plain language summaries of the top research breakthroughs selected by the IACC from a pool of research articles nominated by…

This guide presents an introduction to the basics about data collection and discusses the uses of data in daily work. The emphasis is on youth programs in Indiana, but the information is useful for programs in other states. Ways in which program planners and advocacy activists can use data are described, and local, state, and national resources…

This Guide is an annotated bibliography of existing large scale data sets that provide useful information to policymakers, researchers, state administrators, and others in the field of child care and early education. The Guide follows an ecological approach to research and policy in the field: it brings attention not only to children themselves,…

Primary prevention is a major concern in psychology, but data regarding intervention effectiveness, particularly effect sizes (ES) appear to be lacking. A thorough literature search of Psychological Abstracts, community psychology journals, and textbooks yielded 47 primary prevention articles, 22 of which were data-based, and none of which…

Improving high school graduation rates has in recent years become a growing concern to state and local policymakers for a number of reasons: the reduced economic opportunities and increased social costs for individuals without a high school diploma; the economic consequences, such as reduced tax revenues; and the need for more college graduates.…