Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Using the power of assessment. Step One: Become familiar with student assessment data and learn to use it to enhance your teaching -- Step two: Develop an efficient system for collecting meaningful student test data -- Step three: Learn how to use student test data as an individual teacher, a team member, and as part of a schoolwide initiative -- Chapter one rubric: Using the power of assessment -- Reflections -- 2. Creating a data-driven instructional system. Step one: Define your learning targets -- Step two: Begin building your standards-based assessments -- Step three: Align your curriculum with learning targets and assessments -- A word about curriculum mapping -- Chapter two rubric: Creating a data-driven instructional system -- Reflections -- 3. Making data-driven decisions in the classroom. Using formative assessment data to immediately inform teaching -- Using formative assessment data to inform teaching over time -- Benchmark assessments -- Test reports -- Rubric-graded assessments : Using rubric-graded formative assessment data to immediately inform teaching ; Using rubric-graded formative assessment data to inform teaching over time ; Rubric-graded benchmark assessments -- Chapter three rubric: Making data-driven decisions in the classroom -- Reflections --

4. Empowering students with the results of their learning. Step one: Eliminate "mystery teaching" by providing students with clear and consistent standards-based learning targets and assessments -- Step two: Give students specific feedback regarding their progress toward learning targets in a timely and caring manner and in a format that is understandable to them -- Step three: Give students opportunities to self-assess and improve their work -- Step four: Provide interventions to help students reach learning targets in a timely manner -- Chapter four rubric: Empowering students with the results of their learning -- Reflections -- 5. Powering achievement in culturally diverse classrooms. Step one: Become a "cultural broker" -- Step two: Analyze the needs of subgroups through the use of disaggregated test data -- Step three: Address the needs of subgroups by more accurately measuring what students know rather than their ability to communicate their knowledge in standard English -- Chapter five rubric: Powering achievement in culturally diverse classrooms -- Reflections -- 6. Harnessing the power of collective wisdom. Data-driven changes in curriculum and instruction -- Data-driven staff development initiatives -- Data-driven student interventions -- Making the most of team time -- Chapter six rubric: Harnessing the power of collective wisdom -- Reflections.