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California Professional Standards for Education Leaders · Instructional leadership and professional learning

Use information from a variety of sources to guide program and professional learning planning, implementation and revisions.

Anchor instructional leadership in the daily work of teaching: what educators try, what students encounter, and what the evidence invites the team to change.

Developing the practice

  1. Gathering Data from Multiple Sources: Educational leaders should gather data from a variety of sources to inform program and professional learning planning, implementation, and revisions.

    • Resource: Data Quality Campaign provides resources and tools for collecting and using data from multiple sources in education.

    Analyzing Data to Identify Patterns and Trends: Educational leaders should analyze data to identify patterns, trends, and areas for improvement.

    • Resource: EdWeek Market Brief offers articles and resources on data analysis techniques and trends in education.

    Using Data to Set Goals and Priorities: Educational leaders should use data to set goals and priorities for program and professional learning planning.

    • Resource: Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching offers resources and tools for setting goals and priorities based on data in education.

    Developing Action Plans and Strategies: Educational leaders should develop action plans and strategies based on data analysis to address identified needs and achieve established goals.

    • Resource: Learning Forward provides resources and tools for developing action plans and strategies based on data analysis in education.

    Monitoring Progress and Making Adjustments: Educational leaders should monitor progress towards goals and objectives and make adjustments as needed based on ongoing data analysis.

    • Resource: EdSurge offers articles and resources on monitoring progress and making adjustments based on data analysis in education.

    Communicating Findings and Recommendations: Educational leaders should communicate findings and recommendations based on data analysis to stakeholders within the educational institution.

    • Resource: American Association of School Administrators (AASA) provides resources and guidance on communicating findings and recommendations based on data analysis in education.

    Promoting Data-Informed Decision-Making: Educational leaders should promote a culture of data-informed decision-making where data is used to guide all aspects of program and professional learning planning.

    • Resource: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) offers tools and resources for promoting data-informed decision-making in education.

    By using information from a variety of sources to guide program and professional learning planning, implementation, and revisions, educational leaders can ensure that decisions are grounded in evidence and aligned with the needs and priorities of the educational institution. This promotes continuous improvement and leads to better outcomes for all students.

Software connections for this indicator

KickUp

Links professional-learning implementation and feedback to revision cycles, keeping the focus on what educators tried and what students experienced.

View the SDLA product page →

Product references illustrate a leadership capability and do not constitute endorsement. Confirm current features, privacy, accessibility, integrations, contracts, and district fit.

Two intellectual virtues for 2C3

Intellectual humility

Names the limits of the leader’s first interpretation and creates room for evidence and perspectives that may revise it.

Intellectual carefulness

Checks definitions, assumptions, accuracy, consequences, and confidentiality before acting.

Explore SDLA’s intellectual virtues →

A focused learning shelf

Questions for reflection and mentoring

  • What would credible practice look and sound like on an ordinary school day?
  • Which students or adults experience the issue differently from the dominant account?
  • What evidence would cause the team to revise its current approach?
  • What small test could produce useful learning within the next month?