TPE Lead

Instructional Data

What This Data Is For

Instructional data helps you determine whether Tier 1 instruction is strong enough to support most students. It's not about ranking teachers. It's about identifying patterns in standards, alignment, rigor, and support so you can narrow your focus and lead intentionally.

Here is a simple, but clear, data sheet template that can help you identify patterns, trends, and decide where your focus should be when it comes to instruction across your building.

How to Use It

Start by analyzing by standard, not by teacher.

Look for:

  • Standards that are weak across multiple classrooms
  • Large variation between classrooms on the same standard
  • A high number of "approaching" students (not yet proficient)
  • Standards that repeat as weak across grade levels

Then ask:

Is this a Tier 1 issue? Is this a consistency issue? Is this a depth/rigor issue? Is this a small group/intervention issue? Only after identifying patterns should you move to individual coaching conversations.

If You Notice This → Consider This

  • Same standard weak across multiple teachers → Content that is difficult, may need more time, better strategies, or stronger prerequisite support.
  • One classroom significantly lower than others → Coaching and support opportunity
  • High "approaching" but low "below" → Instruction may need more depth or stronger checks for understanding
  • Large number of students "below" across the board → Tier 1 clarity or foundational gap
  • Intervention students not improving → Tier 2 structure or fidelity issue

Reflection Questions

  • What instructional trend is most urgent right now?
  • What is the ONE standard or skill we need to focus on?
  • What support will teachers need to improve here?
  • How will we monitor this in the next cycle?

If your answer is "everything," you still have to narrow it.

Optional ChatGPT Prompts

1️⃣ Broad Trend Overview

When you just want to understand what the data is saying:

"Below is our instructional data by teacher and standard. Each row includes teacher name, standard assessed, and number of students proficient, approaching, and below. What overall patterns and trends do you see across teachers and standards? Summarize the big takeaways without focusing on just one classroom."

This gives you the zoomed-out view.

2️⃣ Standard-Level Pattern Analysis

When you want to look at alignment and consistency:

"Using the data below (teacher, standard, # proficient, # approaching, # below), identify which standards show consistent strength or weakness across classrooms. Where is there high variation between teachers on the same standard, and what might that suggest?"

This helps you spot curriculum or consistency issues.

3️⃣ Interpreting the 'Approaching' Group

When you want to analyze that middle band strategically:

"In the data below, many students fall into the 'approaching' category for certain standards. Based on this breakdown (teacher, standard, proficient/approaching/below), what might this suggest about Tier 1 instruction, rigor, or clarity? What instructional adjustments might move students from approaching to proficient?"

This prevents over-focusing only on "below."

4️⃣ Leadership Focus Prompt

When you're ready to narrow:

"Review the instructional data below (teacher, standard, # proficient, # approaching, # below). If you were a principal looking for one building-wide instructional focus for the next 4–6 weeks, what would you prioritize and why?"

This turns data into a leadership move.