What is the Data Dashboard?
Designed to be the district’s accountability barometer, the dashboard is an interactive online tool for all members of our learning community: parents, BDUSD staff, students and community members. The dashboard offers an in-depth look at key academic performance variables for our district. It displays current performance levels as well as performance goals.
Why did the Beaver Dam School District create the dashboard?
The BDUSD school board felt it necessary to provide focus for our staff and students. The dashboard shows all members of our learning community what we value and what we are striving for. The dashboard also allows the community to see how our school district is currently performing and shows what progress is being made towards our performance goals.
Who is the dashboard’s target audience?
The dashboard is intended for anyone who has an interest in our school district, and it is easily accessed by the public through our web site. As parents choose where to have their children educated, the dashboard will assist in comparing school districts. Equally important, the dashboard focuses the efforts of all school district staff.
Why is there a focus on Advanced Placement testing and success rates? Isn’t this a high school goal only?
Advanced placement courses are offered in all high school subject areas. To prepare students for advanced placement classes, all students must reach learning benchmarks from kindergarten through high school. Preparing students for advanced placement courses increases the academic rigor in all subject areas, at all levels.
From where is the dashboard data acquired and how current is it?
The data on the dashboard is taken from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s website, http://dpi.wi.gov/sig/. The dashboard is updated each August to show the progress the district has made in each area.
What is the rationale for each goal that is articulated on the dashboard?
BDUSD is striving for excellence; therefore, each goal on the dashboard exceeds the state average in the focus area. The goals were created based on benchmarks reached by high achieving school districts in the state and nation. The goals also meet and exceed No Child Left Behind federal legislation.
Will the dashboard change?
Change is inevitable. All institutions are either growing and progressing or dying. The Beaver Dam School District is progressing, growing and striving for excellence. As we reach our goals we will set new goals. As our school district grows and changes, we may add or subtract areas of focus.
Why are test results so important?
Test data measures student progress. There are other, less objective ways to measure student achievement, and BDUSD uses those as well; however, testing is an objective, quantified measure of how well we are teaching and what our students are learning. Ultimately, test data helps everyone assess our students’ academic growth and our effectiveness in the classroom.
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