Documents Instructors Should Obtain

The following documents are recommended as useful supplementary materials to have on hand for the Foundational Data Improvement Lessons. Which of them the instructor obtains will depend both on the availability of state- and district-specific documents and on the nature of the participants being trained (for example, whether they are all from one district or represent staff from multiple districts).

District Documents

• District data calendar/timelines
• Student attendance reports
• District data standards
• District data dictionary
• Data procedures already in place in district
  • Confidentiality guidelines
  • Data correction procedures
  • Data entry standards
• Data-responsibility information
  • Quality data role tip sheets from the Forum Guide to Creating a Culture of Quality Data: A School & District Resource
  • Job descriptions for data coordinator and/or other data-related positions
• List of appropriate website resources including
  • Forum Guide to Building a Culture of Quality Data
  • Online data standards or dictionaries
  • Online versions of data-related procedures and forms
  • NCES Online handbooks
• District or general data audit reports and forms

State Documents

• State data calendar/timeline
• State data standards or data dictionary
• State data audit reports and forms