Multi-Dimensional Analytic Tool (MDAT)
One-Year Change in WKCE Scale Scores

Using MDAT

Cautions | Getting Started | Suggested Uses | Questions to Consider | More about MDAT

Cautions

• MDAT report results contains confidential data and must be kept secure. Even aggregated data can lead to personally identifiable information. These reports are not for public review. Distribution within your district must be in accordance with state and federal privacy laws and local school board policy.
• Due to measurement error associated with individual student scores, high stakes decisions about individual students should not be made based on individual student WKCE scores.
• Results for small groups of students tend to be less statistically reliable than results for larger groups of students. Though results based on small numbers of students may be useful for some purposes, they should be interpreted with caution.
• MDAT can be used to identify and investigate possible reasons for academic strengths and issues, but is not intended to be used as the sole basis for planning or policy decisions.
• Note that only students with two consecutive years of WKCE scale scores are included in the means and the mean one-year change scores. In some cases the number of students included in these scores for a student group may be far fewer than the number of students in the group as a whole. In these cases, means and scale score changes should not be used to reach conclusions about the performance of that group because the characteristics of students not taking WKCE tests are unlikely to be representative of the group as a whole.
• State law prohibits the use of WKCE scores to discharge, suspend or formally discipline a teacher or as the reason for the nonrenewal of a teacher's contract. See 118.30 (2)(c), Wis. Stats.
• See also Cautions listed on Understanding MDAT.

Getting Started

Report Options

1. In the top section of the page, select Data Topic, Year of Data, District, and (optional) School of interest. A Statewide Summary option is available in the District dropdown menu.
2. Note the requirement to select a subject variable/filter and a grade variable/filter.
3. Select one or two variables from the list on the left side of the page. Use these variables to explore assoications between the Data Topic and other variables. By selecting variables you can compare results across subjects, individual students, student groups, and schools in a single report.
4. (Optional) Select one or more filters from the right side of the page. Use these filters when you want to restrict results in your report to a subset of data or records available (e.g. specfic subject or student group).
5. Click on "Next" button.

Verify Report Options

1. Verify the options your selected are correct.
2. If not correct, click on "Change Report Options" and modify your selections.
3. If correct, click on "Submit" to view Report Results.

Suggested Uses

• Track data about academic progress for individual students and student groups. MDAT includes data on changes in WKCE scores from November of Year X-1 to November of Year X where Year X is the "Year of Data" selected on the Report Options page and Year X-1 is the prior year.
• Connect and compare data from multiple disparate DPI collections (WSAS, ISES, etc).
• Drill down and control for differences in student characteristics and other factors.
• Compare the progress of student groups of interest at the school or district levels to progress of groups with similar characteristics at the state level.
• Create print versions of MDAT reports with one-click.
• View student level details (requires legitimate educational purpose and specific authorization).
• Download MDAT aggregated or student level data (requires legitimate educational purpose and specific authorization) for custom analysis and reporting purposes and to link to other local data (e.g. classroom progress monitoring or interventions) not collected by DPI.

Questions to Consider

• Are local populations of interest performing better than similar populations at the state level? What are possible explanations for differences in performance or progress?
• Do MDAT change scores provide some evidence for the success of school/district strategies? Were these school/district strategies focused on improving the same knowledge and skills as are measured by WKCE during the November to November time period between the WKCE tests?
• Is there evidence that strategies were more successful for some students or student groups than other groups? If so, then what are some possible explanations?

Where can I get more information about MDAT?

For information about the Multi-Dimensional Analytic Tool topic One-Year Change in WKCE Scale Scores, see About the Data, Glossary, and/or MDAT Frequently Asked Questions.

Questions or comments about MDAT should be directed to the ldshelp@dpi.wi.gov .

Last updated on 1/19/2010 1:19:17 PM