Chapter 5: Sustaining Data-Informed Decision Making

This study sought to determine the extent to which and how building staff sustained their data-informed decision-making (DIDM) school renewal activities 8 months after having participated in a 30-month Learning-Centered Leadership Development Program. The study also attempted to identify facilitators and barriers for sustainability. Twenty-two of the 25 practicing or aspiring principals were surveyed and 16 (or 72.2%) returned the questionnaire. A case study was conducted with one of the school principals to contextualize the findings. Findings in this study suggest that the majority of buildings had sustained their DIDM school renewal activities. Sustainability could take the form of (a) continuing as is, (b) evolving based on the changing context, or (c) incorporating into the overall school improvement plan. “Staff participation, collaboration and commitment” and “leadership effort to put a structure in place” served as factors that facilitated sustainability. Leadership turnover was the primary barrier to sustaining DIDM school renewal activities. Implications of the findings were discussed.