Are you currently navigating the intricate process of finalizing your budget plans while eagerly awaiting the return of student outcomes data? As you reflect on the progress and identify gaps from the previous school year, it's crucial to dive into the two different approaches for measuring both Return on Investment (ROI) and Return on Instruction (ROI): The Forward Approach and The Backward Approach.

Approach 1: The Foward Approach 
Evaluating Academic Resources 

One effective method involves isolating key academic resources. Resources of this type might include digital tools, professional development programs, internal assets, or specific strategies that your district has put in place for students. By scrutinizing each resource's impact on student outcomes, you can gain invaluable insights into its efficacy – basically whether or not it’s actually working in the manner in which you planned.  
 
Coincidentally, this evaluation period normally coincides with budget discussions. Talk about great timing. By doing this, your staff can then start to ask big questions like: Should we expand? Renew? Alter our approach? Is this working? Is it just not for us anymore? It's about pinpointing what truly benefits your students most. 

Approach 2: The Backward Approach 
Evaluating Student Outcomes 

Another effective evaluation strategy, that some districts may not know about, entails working backward while utilizing the comprehensive student outcomes data within your system. By comparing similar assessment results and other performance metrics, you can easily identify not only which students benefit most from current resources but also those who may have slipped through the cracks.  
 
By taking this approach, districts can start to quickly connect the outcomes with the corresponding resources. In turn, this invaluable information will help districts make more informed and strategic investment decisions for future school years. Districts will also be able to identify students who may not be meeting certain standards. Imagine leveraging real-time data to uplift students who teeter on the brink of falling behind, ensuring they receive the targeted support they need.

Why Context Matters 

What districts should note is that it's not just about evaluating resources in isolation. We understand that outcomes can vary widely based on factors such as classroom dynamics, teacher experience, and student demographics.  
 
By analyzing usage alongside student performance data, we uncover nuanced insights, such as: How does a resource impact different student groups? Does it empower all learners equally? Is there a resource that is better suited for some but not others? This approach ensures that every decision aligns with your commitment to equity and academic growth. 

Moving Forward with Confidence  

It’s time to move beyond simplistic evaluations and embrace a holistic view—one that integrates diverse data points to inform strategic decisions. Whether it's refining instructional strategies, enhancing resource allocation, or optimizing curriculum frameworks, your main goal should still remain: maximizing every student's potential. It isn't just about metrics; it's about meaningful progress in education.

Join Us in the Journey  

Glimpse by Level Data supports both options for evaluation. Our product was created to give you the tools and data insights to run evaluations in whichever direction best fits your district and your students.  
 
To help you find out which process would work best for your district (and it might be both!) check our learning session where Product Expert, Nicole Pezent, walks you through the process of each evaluation option as well as the benefits for each. Let's shape the future of education, one data-driven insight at a time.