Charter schools, data use, and the 21st century: how charter schools use data to inform instruction that prepares students for the 21st century

Unrestricted The significant advancement in technology, along with the continuing globalization of business and industry, has raised calls to change the way American students are being educated in order to better prepare them to excel in this constantly evolving 21st century environment. One method of creating change and informing direction is the practice of using data to inform decisions. Using this approach to innovate instruction for the 21st century requires thoughtful and conscientious leadership. In recent years, charter schools have been credited with the potential to innovate practices across schools more successfully that traditional school districts. This study investigated the ways in which data use is driving 21st century instructional innovation in charter schools. To explore these issues, qualitative case studies were conducted in two charter schools. Interviews with administrators as well as teachers and department chairs were conducted, and complementary document analysis was completed.; Findings show that 21st century skills are part of the instructional program at each school, although to differing degrees. At each site, the use of data plays an important role in the planning of instruction and curricular development. Administrators at both schools use data as the basis for making decisions and provide many opportunities for teachers to use (and learn to use) data during professional development time. In regard to student preparation for the 21st century, strategies to cultivate the appropriate skills in students are a part of the curriculum at each campus, although neither school specifically includes those strategies for the purpose of 21st century education. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.