Structure and Support of Data Inquiry Teams Purpose Data inquiry teams are teams of teachers that meet regularly to analyze student data, to reflect on student
progress, and to create action plans that will improve instructional effectiveness. Data inquiry teams focus
exclusively on analyzing data for the students they teach and developing plans for responding to the needs
and strengths of individual students, groups of students, and particular areas of curriculum. However, data
inquiry teams are part of a larger system for using data to raise student achievement and close achievement
gaps. In EL Education schools, data is defined as information that has been systematically collected and organized to
support analysis, inquiry, and decision-making.
Membership Everyone who teaches is a member of a data inquiry team, regardless of content area or specialization.
Special education teachers are members of teams who analyze the achievement data of the students they
serve. When a special education teacher works with multiple grade levels and multiple content areas, they
typically choose to work most closely with the team who teaches the highest number of students on his/her
caseload. It is still important that the special educators receive team meeting notes and information from
other team meetings that is relevant to his/her students.
Non-core content teachers such as music, art, foreign language, physical education, etc…also participate on a
data inquiry team. They choose the team that is focused on raising achievement of standards they can support
in their classes. For example, a tenth grade Spanish teacher might meet with the tenth grade history teacher,
and tenth grade special education teacher because they all integrate the Common Core reading standards into
their classes and teach the same students. The middle school music teacher meets with the seventh grade
history, language arts, and science teachers because they have implemented a writing initiative for seventh
graders at their school this year.
Processes and Procedures Implementing clear processes and procedures are important for data inquiry teams to be successful. There
are several roles for teams to consider. They include, but are not limited to: facilitator, timekeeper, note
taker, and process checker. Because it is easy to get lost in the data or taken down paths not completely
relevant to the task at hand, being specific about who will do what and how is critical and will support in team
in achieving its goals.
Protocols are essential for data inquiry teams. The purpose of the protocol is to keep people safe (data can
feel personal) and to increase efficiency. There are several data protocols available that suit many different
needs. No matter which protocol the team chooses to use, be aware that the first time through usually
presents some challenges, but with practice and reflection teams will find more and more success.
© 2015 EL Education Inc. Role of Leadership Leadership plays a very important role in the support of data inquiry teams. Leaders are responsible for
organizing the team, selecting the members, managing data and materials, and coaching the team through the
initial meetings. Leaders make sure that teams have identified specific roles and have selected the appropriate
protocol. During initial meetings leaders should be present. However, they should reserve comments or
interpretations of data, unless the team is missing something very important. The leader’s job is to build the
team’s capacity for analyzing data and moving to action. They should support, coach, and intervene if the
team is not being successful in the way they either work with one another, or the way they analyze the data.
The leader is also responsible for holding teams accountable for meeting, and for whatever reports or action
steps that are created.
Instructional Coaching Data inquiry teams should always produce actionable items for the classroom that will improve student
achievement. The instructional coaches role is to a. make sure the actionable items are in alignment with
standards and assessments, and b. make sure the teacher knows how to take action. Just because data inquiry
teams end with action steps, does not mean that each teacher knows what implementation of those actions
steps will look like or require. Instructional coaches should be ready to share ideas, tools, and strategies during
the planning stages that follow the team meetings. Coaches should also coordinate and commit to
observation dates and times as well as follow up meetings with the teachers he/she coaches. Data inquiry
teams and practices only lead to increased achievement when follow through occurs after analysis. The coach
must make sure that follow not only occurs, but is assessed along the way.
Role of Leadership Team The role of the leadership team is to monitor progress on the student achievement goals that are outlined in
the work plan throughout the school year. This can occur through the use of data inquiry or discussion
protocols during the leadership team meetings, and during learning walks that are scheduled throughout the
year. When the leadership team is engaged in looking at data, a culture of evidence is built throughout the
school. Often leaders view themselves as the owners of the data process, and miss the opportunity to leverage
this team’s ability to sustain momentum. When the going gets tough, having a group that is committed to the
continued development of data practices school wide is very helpful. Leadership teams should look at data
every time they are together and build their own comfort level and skills of data analysis so they can be a
support to colleagues and school wide processes.
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