Student Assessment Data Strategist

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 360,000 students in more than 600 schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership and

continuous learning.

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has set ambitious goals to ensure that every childin every school and every neighborhoodhas access to a world-class learning experience from birth, resulting in graduation from high school, college, and made career-ready. The Student Assessment Data Strategist will support the effective use of student assessment data in department and district programs, policies, and initiatives.

The Student Assessment Data Strategist will report to the CPS Director of Student Assessment in the Department of Student Assessment.

The Student Assessment Data Strategist will help build capacity at all levels of Chicago Public Schools to use student assessment data effectively in department and district programs, policies, and initiatives. The Student Assessment Data Strategist will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

1. Act as the process expert for student assessment data across the grade-level continuum (Pre-K - 12) to inform the use of Assessment data across multiple Central Office Departments and CPS Initiatives. This includes data from large-scale assessment programs, as well as data generated in the new student assessment system and Curriculum Equity Initiative.
   
   

• Remain knowledgeable of changes in data-relevant CPS policies and initiatives such as those pertaining to assessment, Pre-K - 3 strategy, accountability, and school support.
  
  
• Serve as the liaison between the Department of Student Assessment and network data strategists to ensure quality and alignment of assessment reporting across various initiatives and systems (vendor systems, network reports, CPS Dashboard, etc.)
  
  
• Contribute to the development and implementation of common district and school reporting and strategies for using large-scale assessment data (e.g. NWEA, IAR, P/SAT, etc.) to improve standards-driven teaching and learning
  
  

• Provide support to partners and stakeholders around how to interpret assessment data according to assessment design characteristics and analytic best practice
  
  
• Help build the capacity of various stakeholders to understand and use the reporting features of the new student assessment system to support in cycles of data inquiry in schools.
  
  
• Support the Assessment for Learning Manager in the implementation of professional learning efforts focused on the effective use of the reports in the new system assessment system and the Curriculum Equity Initiative.
  
  

1. Act as the point person for data access, analytics, and selection
   
   
   • Provide assessment team members and partners (departments, networks, and schools) with relevant datasets and analytics support as needed to support robust engagement with student assessment and program data
     
     
   • Support Director of Student Assessment in assisting internal partners and networks teams with understanding their schools' assessment plans and implementation practices.
     
     
   • Provide strategic data analysis to the Department of Student Assessment to improve assessment team programs and initiatives focused both on assessment implementation and student learning
     
     
   • Identify implications of district-wide performance data and make strategic recommendations to Director of Student Assessment regarding policy and implementation.
     
     
   • Serve as a Department of Student Assessment expert in understanding and accessing CPS' data systems.
     
     

1. Strategist will build capacity of the Department of Student Assessment to engage in robust cycles of department strategic planning and data inquiry
   
   
   • Coordinate with the Director of Student Assessment to develop team capacity in alignment with the Continuous Improvement Process. This includes supporting the Assessment team in conducting root cause analyses, developing theories of action and building coherent multi-year strategies.
     
     
   • Support the Department of Student Assessment in the development, implementation, and evaluation of their Continuous Improvement Plan by building capacity around strong cycles of inquiry and the use of data for planning.
     
     

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Student Assessment Data Strategist must possess the following qualifications:

Type of Education Required:

• Bachelor's Degree required, preferably in Computer Science, Business, Education, or related field of study.
  
  
• Master's degree preferred.
  
  

Type of Experience and Number of Years :

• Minimum of 3 years as an education data analyst or strategist
  
  
• Extensive experience with student assessment data preferred
  
  
• Teaching experience preferred but not required
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Demonstrated eagerness to learn with a track record of proactively problem-solving challenges
  
  
• Intermediate expertise of Excel and/or Google Sheets inclusive of the ability to combine and report on datasets
  
  
• Ability to communicate data and methodological details clearly and accurately to non-technical audiences.
  
  
• Strong analytic and data management skills
  
  
• Strong data visualization skills
  
  
• Strategic thinker able to generate actionable insights from data and make recommendations to instructional leaders to improve instructional practice.
  
  
• A logical approach to researching and analyzing opportunities.
  
  
• Experience working with or coaching adult learners around assessment data interpretation and use
  
  
• Excellent report writing, analytical and project management skills, with a good attention to detail.
  
  
• Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively across multiple stakeholders
  
  
• Possess a track record of success as demonstrated by superior academic and professional achievement.
  
  
• Preferred: Experience with either High School or Elementary Assessments, team structures, and data cycles.
  
  
• Preferred: Experience with SAS, SQL, or Microsoft Power BI
  
  

Additional Notes :

• CPS employees are required to be actual residence of the City of Chicago within six months of beginning employment, and are required to maintain Chicago residency throughout employment.
  
  
• Chicago Public Schools is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment based non-immigrant and immigrant visas.
  
  
• Chicago Public Schools is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals, including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.
  
  

Residency Requirement: As a condition of employment with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district