It may sound strange, but in addition to supporting our scholars with college-prep academics, college visits, and college matching and financing, SEED also empowers them through the use of data. We spoke to Kendra Johnson-Tesch, data analyst at The SEED Foundation, to learn more about her role at SEED and how SEED schools use data to help our students achieve their academic goals and get to and through college.
Kendra, can you tell us a little about yourself, your role, and why you came to SEED?
I have a background in math, data, and statistics, but I also have a master’s degree in education policy. I see myself as a steward of all data used by the SEED network.
I was drawn to SEED because of the opportunity to be on the line with students and make an impact. I enjoy being part of the SEED community and working with folks across the network. Through data, we are learning unique insights about our students and schools. Data helps us to improve our programming and instruction based on student feedback and performance. It also gives us the evidence we need to enact school-based policy changes.
How does SEED use data to improve student learning?
We conduct interim assessments three times a year to gauge students’ academic performance, using a tool called MAP (Measures of Academic Progress). MAP is unique because it helps us to track the academic achievement and growth of our scholars during their time at SEED. Learning how and if students are growing academically helps us to respond in real time and adjust our teaching. It also helps us to predict student performance on critical state assessments, for example PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) and MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program).
What subjects do we assess?
MAP is administered to SEED students in sixth to tenth grade and assesses their growth and proficiency in mathematics, reading, and language usage. We don’t administer MAP to SEED scholars in eleventh and twelfth grade because they take college entrance exams.
How is MAP data used by school leaders and teachers?
Schools have several goals for MAP testing. First, as mentioned above, MAP can predict student performance on state assessments. Schools are accountable for reaching certain metrics on the year-end state assessments. In order to prepare students for these exams, schools use MAP data. Second, our schools use MAP data to track their performance on their school improvement plans. Finally, schools use MAP data to provide teachers with the information they need to modify and customize instruction based on students’ growth and skill gaps.
Do students use MAP data to improve?
At the end of each MAP assessment, our students receive their scores. They can see how their current score compares to where they need to be to reach their growth goals. This is a motivating factor for many students.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
We’re doing a lot with data at SEED to help our students and schools improve. There are some projects in the pipeline that should really help us at the network level. It’s exciting!