Which element is essential for achieving student success through data-driven decision-making?

Publicly stated and shared goals are essential for achieving student success through data-driven decision-making because they provide a clear, collective vision for all stakeholders involved in the educational process. These goals ensure that everyone—from educators to administrators, and even students and their families—understands the objectives and metrics that guide educational efforts. When goals are shared, it fosters collaboration and accountability, enabling teams to analyze data meaningfully and make informed decisions based on student performance.

Having common objectives aligned with data use encourages a focus on student outcomes and promotes transparency in assessing progress. This alignment can lead to identifying successful strategies and areas needing improvement, thereby directly impacting student success.

In contrast, the other options do not support a collaborative environment conducive to data-driven practices. Strict adherence to traditional teaching methods limits the adaptability and innovation necessary for responding to diverse student needs. Limiting data access to administrators only restricts the ability of educators to make informed decisions in real time based on student performance. Finally, creating high-stakes testing environments can create anxiety and pressure on students, which could detract from their actual learning and performance, rather than facilitating growth and understanding through the effective use of data.