Despite all the speeches, articles, and meetings about data-based instructional decision making, the author's observation after more than 20 years of working with middle and high school teams is that teachers and administrators often make important instructional decisions on the basis of historical precedent, anecdotal information, experience, or…

Improvement of information systems to support management and planning in education is dependent on a change to a rational management style. It can be argued that this same prerequisite exists for the return of public confidence and support. (Author)