There is a wide array of accessibility features (e.g., universal features, designated supports, accommodations) which enable students who need them to better access assessments. Historically, however, there has been wide variation in the language used to describe these supports. For example, the accessibility policies of different states use…

There is no single agreed-upon definition of data literacy because expectations of what it means to be data literate varies across contexts. The lack of agreement on a definition of data literacy across contexts is therefore necessary. However, definitions are important. Definitions embody our understanding of concepts and are the foundation for…

Despite growing international interest in pedagogical documentation, there is limited research investigating this professional practice. In strengthening the knowledge base, this paper offers textual analysis of material written about pedagogical documentation to enable greater understanding of its nature and purposes. The authors of this paper…

Developing a solid foundational knowledge of data literacy is integral to building role-specific knowledge and building capacity of educators to use and apply these skills appropriately. However, the definition of data literacy is inconsistent and often too narrowly applied within the field of education. National experts and technical assistance…

With the exponential increase in the volume of data available in the 21st century, data literacy skills have become vitally important in work places and everyday life. This paper provides a systematic review of available data literacy assessments targeted at different audiences and educational levels. The results can help researchers and…

The 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act placed a 1.0% cap on the participation of students with disabilities in the alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS). U.S. Department of Education regulations clarified that states must develop participation guidelines and a definition of…

The possibilities of Learning Analytics as a tool for empowering teachers and educators have created a steep interest in how to provide so-called actionable insights. However, the literature offers little in the way of defining or discussing what the term "actionable insight" means. This selective literature review provides a look into…

Evidence-based decision-making requires access to good and reliable data. In recent years, there has been a tremendous increase of data available to institutions, from internal as well as external sources. With this increase in data and its analytics, new challenges and questions arise. One of the most pertinent of which is the ethics and best…

Recent federal policy changes have placed new requirements on states to demonstrate and document their efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education (ECE), and have made clear the urgent need for a shared understanding of this concept. This guidebook was developed to address the need for developing a common understanding and…

Beliefs about knowledge have been found to relate to a variety of student outcomes and to vary across educational domains and instructional contexts. However, there are limited data on students' beliefs about information and truth, vis-à-vis knowledge (i.e., epistemic beliefs) and how these beliefs differ across instructional settings.…

"Data-drive instruction can distort the way reading is taught, harming the students who need high-quality instruction the most," Susan B. Neuman concludes from her research team's two years of observation in nine low-income New York City schools. She describes how some students are reminded that they are "failures" every day by…

This chapter presents various definitions of big data and examines some of the assumptions regarding the value and power of big data, especially as it relates to issues of equity in community colleges. Finally, this chapter ends with a discussion of the opportunities and challenges of using big data, critically, for institutional researchers.

Data-informed instructional methods offer tremendous promise for increasing the effectiveness of teaching, learning, and schooling. Yet-to-be-developed data science approaches have the potential to dramatically advance instruction for every student and to enhance learning for people of all ages. Next steps that emerged from a recent National…

This overview of the basic components of a data dictionary is designed to educate and inform IDEA Part C and Part B 619 state staff about the purpose and benefits of having up-to-date data dictionaries for their data systems. This report discusses the following topics: (1) What Is a Data Dictionary?; (2) Why Is a Data Dictionary Needed and How Can…

Sharing scientific research data has become increasingly important for knowledge advancement in today's networked, digital world. This article describes the evolution of access to United States government information in relation to scientific research funded by federal grants. It analyzes the data sharing policy of the National Science Foundation,…