Continuous improvement process: The ongoing improvement of products, services or processes through incremental and breakthrough improvements. Often represented by the PDSA cycle.

Data-driven decision-making: The process of making decisions based on relevant and timely information.

Demographic data: Demographic data refer to information regarding the student and his/her family and community. These data refer to race, gender, and socioeconomic status and other characteristics that affect the manner and rate in which students learn. When making decisions about instructional processes, the context of what is to be learned (outcome data) and who is to be taught (demographic data) should be considered.

No Child Left Behind (also No Child Left Behind Act): The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was signed into effect in January 2002. The Act aims to help close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and minority students and their peers. It is based on four basic principles: stronger accountability for results, increased flexibility and local control, expanded options for parents, and an emphasis on teaching methods that have been proven to work.

No Child Left Behind Act    see No Child Left Behind

Outcome data: Outcome data indicate the degree to which an individual or group of students has demonstrated particular knowledge and/or skills, and has achieved certain goals (or standards, benchmarks, objectives, or other teaching targets). Outcome data indicate the extent to which instruction has had an impact on achievement. Educators have only indirect control over outcome data.

Percentile ranks: Numbers ranging from 1 to 99 that reflect how a given child, class, school, or district performed in relation to others. A percentile rank of 50 denotes average performance for the grade. An individual's percentile rank indicates the percentage of students in same grade that obtained a score equal to or less than theirs.

Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle: A four-step process for quality improvement that often represents the continuous improvement process. In the first step (plan), a plan to effect improvement is developed. In the second step (do), the plan is carried out. In the third step (study), the effects of the plan are observed. In the last step (act), the results are studied to determine what was learned and to make decisions about moving forward.

Process data: Process data refer to the components and practices that comprise the instructional program in the classroom, at the school, and at the district level. Process data differ from outcome and demographic data, as they are the only data over which teachers and administrators have control.

Process data are where changes must occur to have an impact on outcomes. Although outcome and demographic data may be analyzed over and over, change will not occur until educational processes, such as teacher and/or administrator behavior, are modified.

Qualitative: Qualitative data are not measured. Their values vary in kind but not degree. Qualitative data relate to the characteristics of our students, teachers, and even the instructional processes we have in place, but they do not represent measurements.

Quantitative: Quantitative data can be counted or measured. To quantify educational phenomena, there must be an instrument to measure or a standard used to count learning behavior.

Reliable: Dependable. An assessment that is reliable provides consistent measurements.

Scaled scores: Scores on a single scale with intervals of equal size. The scale can be applied to all groups taking an assessment, making it possible to compare scores from different groups of test-takers. Scaled scores can be added, subtracted, and averaged across test levels. Scaled scores allow for comparisons among test-takers, comparisons of individual scores to group scores, or comparisons of pre- and post-test results.

SQC    see Statistical quality control

Statistical quality control (also SQC): The use of statistical techniques to control quality. Workers and managers collect data and graph the processes they undergo as they work, then relate variation in the processes to variation in the quality of their products. The term "statistical process control" is often used interchangeably with "statistical quality control."

Total quality management (also TQM): A management approach to long-term success through customer satisfaction. TQM is based on the participation of all members of an organization in improving processes, products, services and the culture in which they work.

TQM    see Total quality management

Valid: Producing the desired results. An assessment that is valid is effective at measuring what was intended.