Using Education Indicators: A Forum Guide for State and Local Education Agencies

This guide was developed to provide timely and useful information on education indicators, how their collection and use have changed over time, and how agencies use them strategically. Since the publication of the 2005 document Forum Guide to Education Indicators (https://nces.ed.gov/forum/pub_2005802.asp), many advancements in education have impacted indicators, including changes to data systems (such as improved longitudinal data systems), federal data collections and accountability systems, legislation, mandatory public reporting, privacy protections, and data security. This new guide highlights best practices for using indicators, adjustments over time to the collection and use of indicators, shifts in types of relevant indicators, and what possibilities local and state education agencies see for the effective use of indicators in the future.

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