Importance of technical and managerial competency on the skills sets needed to improve student performance

Data collection and analysis grew as powerful tools by delivering improvements in productivity and the quality of service to organizations. As the capacity to collect data improves, so do the venues for use of data and data processing. Public schools are constantly required to improve the quality of education provided while making the most of the available resources, and the collection and application of student data could potentially facilitate positive outcomes for schools. However, questions over the appropriateness of data use for students remain, especially in respect to students' privacy rights and the potential that data could be misused or otherwise reduce students' academic opportunities. A survey of 90 educators and administrators in three public school districts will provide information regarding how persons with a professional interest in the data collection, data management, and use of student information perceive the utility of such information. These perceptions will be supplemented by a polemic argument in which the identified themes that are discussed will help to better clarify these issues for educators.