The Relationship Between Data-Informed Decision Making Between the District and School Levels

• In Event: 68.060 - Roundtable Session 29
  In Roundtable Session: 68.060-3 - CANCELLED. School Organization and Effects: Data Use in Schools and Districts

Abstract

The notion of schools as “loosely coupled” organizations has been widely discussed. Many argue that the loose coupling is either a protective mechanism for schools to buffer external pressure or a barrier for implementing new reforms. Viewing “using data” as a coupling mechanism and “decision making” as a coupling element, we found the K-12 system appears to be “tightly coupled” between the district and school levels. In other words, the blanket statement of “schools as loosely coupled organizations” is not accurate. Thus, the dominant reform agenda in the last 15 years based on this blanket statement—advocating to tighten the system via curriculum standards, accountability tests, and evaluation as the way to improve the K-12 schools—is called into question.

Authors

• Xingyuan Gao, Western Michigan University

• Jianping Shen, Western Michigan University

• Jiangang Xia, University of Nebraska - Lincoln