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Finding the Story Behind the Numbers
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Finding the Story Behind the Numbers
A Tool-Based Guide for Evaluating Educational Programs

  • James Cox - JK Educational Associates, Anaheim, CA


December 2006 | 144 pages | Corwin

"A wonderful tool! No educational jargon to weed through. The author meshes the real world with the ideal world and provides a concrete guide for principals to work with their faculty."
—Marie Blum, Superintendent
Canaseraga Central School, NY

"Provides insight, evidence, humor, and most important, practical tools every educator and school leader can use. With the wisdom earned through decades of work in schools of every conceivable description, Cox guides us through the belief systems and data analysis, as well as the impact of demographic characteristics, teaching practices, and leadership decisions on student achievement."
—Douglas Reeves, Chairman
Center for Performance Assessment

Focus on program quality—not just test scores—and watch student achievement climb!

In this remarkable book, renowned educational consultant James Cox offers a smarter way to look at data, putting test scores in context, not in isolation. Rather than focusing on last year's findings for school improvement, educators can learn how to evaluate the processes and practices that lead to those data by using a user-friendly, three-pronged framework for school improvement: teacher quality, program elements, and leadership.

This concise, practical guide offers easy-to-use tools and techniques for schools and districts to evaluate their programs using both quantiative and qualitative data. School leaders will learn to look at data, program evaluation, and school improvement differently and discover how to effectively:

  • Define a quality program
  • Analyze what is and is not working
  • Avoid "test score fatigue"

Packed with worksheets, step-by-step instructions, and an extensive appendix of tools, this book provides readers with a complete improvement plan to put into action today!


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
Author's Note
 
About the Author
 
1. The Four Pillars of Program Quality
 
2. Defining the Quality of an Educational Program
 
3. Planning and Professional Development
 
4. Setting Your Improvement Plan in Motion
 
Resource A: Reproducible Tools
 
Resource B: Sources of Characteristics of Effective Teachers
 
References
 
Index

"Provides insight, evidence, humor, and most importantly, practical tools every educator and school leader can use. With the wisdom earned through decades of work in schools of every conceivable description, Cox guides us through belief systems, data analysis, and the impact of demographic characteristics, teaching practices, and leadership decisions on student achievement."

Douglas Reeves, Chairman
Center for Performance Assessment

"A wonderful tool for every person associated with student learning! There is no educational jargon to weed through. The author meshes the real world with the ideal world and provides a concrete guide for principals to work with their faculty, not just 'at' them!"

Marie Blum, Superintendent
Canaseraga Central School, NY

"Provides principals and teacher leaders with tools to assist them in drilling deeper than summative test scores. The numerous checklists and surveys are extremely beneficial and can be put to use immediately."

Bruce Deterding, Principal
Wichita High School South, KS

"From defining and analyzing the qualities of a program to honing in on what objectives are not being reached and why, Finding the Story Behind the Numbers is not limited to one type of instructional routine but is applicable to all, making for a very flexible, solid analysis reference."

California Bookwatch, March 2007

"Cox does a lot of work helping school districts analyze large sets of data to identify central strengths and weaknesses within programs. This book is a must-read to acquaint yourself with the popular MAP planning process."

Teacher Librarian, April 2007
Key features

·        Short & easy to read

·        Full of tools and worksheets with step-by-step instructions

·        Useful at the school and district level

·        By the end of the book, readers will have a completed Improvement Plan to put in place

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781483360119

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ISBN: 9781412942447
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ISBN: 9781412942430
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