How should districts use performance and financial data to drive governance decisions?

• A. Use data only for annual reports.
• B. Keep data internal and avoid public reporting.
• C. Use dashboards and metrics to track progress, inform policy choices, adjust funding priorities, and hold leaders accountable with regular reporting.
• D. Delete any data that contradicts the planned policy.

Answer: (C)

Using performance and financial data in governance means turning those numbers into actionable insight that guides policy, budgeting, and accountability. Dashboards and metrics give leaders a clear, ongoing view of how students are performing, how resources are being used, and whether programs are delivering the desired results. With that visibility, districts can track progress toward goals, spot trends, and compare different approaches to see what’s working.

This approach directly informs policy choices—if data show gaps in achievement or equity, leaders can adjust strategies, programs, or supports. It also allows funding decisions to be evidence-based, shifting resources toward initiatives with demonstrated impact and away from less effective allocations. Importantly, regular, transparent reporting builds accountability by communicating progress to the school board, staff, families, and the community, creating a cycle of review and improvement rather than a once-a-year snapshot.

In contrast, relying on data only for annual reports misses the day-to-day governance needs, keeping data siloed and less actionable. Keeping data internal and avoiding public reporting undermines transparency and accountability. Deleting data to align with a preferred policy erodes trust and ignores the reality the data reveal. The strongest approach is a continuous, data-informed governance process that uses dashboards and metrics to drive decisions and accountability throughout the year.