LINDSAY FIORI lindsay.fiori@journaltimes.com | Posted: Sunday, August 8, 2010 2:23 pm

First of two parts

RACINE – Student data has started seeping into most of the Racine Unified School District’s teaching-related decisions and that use of data isn’t likely to stop any time soon.

Racine Unified officials increasingly believe data is the silver bullet for improving student achievement. The idea is that by analyzing student data like test scores more often teachers will be able to better focus on the areas and kids that need the most help.

That’s why, during the last school year, Unified officials began earnestly incorporating student data analysis into most of the district’s improvement initiatives, a process that will continue this year as those initiatives go on and as more start up.

On Monday, the district will kick off its second annual large-scale data retreat for staff. Called the Chiwaukee Academy, the retreat will bring about 260 Unified educators to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside campus for three days of student data analysis as well as workshops on issues like types of data ranging from state test results to ungraded class quizzes and how to use data to change classroom instruction, said Jeff Weiss, Unified director of curriculum and…

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