In a piece from the New York Times, Motoko Rich finds that while some education experts see data crunching as ineffective to solve school problems, others, like this school in Menomonee Falls, Wis., are taking a different approach:
Some school districts, taking a cue from the business world, are fully embracing metrics, recording and analyzing every scrap of information related to school operations. Their goal is to help improve everything from school bus routes and classroom cleanliness to reading comprehension and knowledge of algebraic equations.
Educators looked at disciplinary data to zero in on classroom problems, as opposed to simply doling out incentives like movie tickets and ski trips for good behavior.