Using Data in Parent Teacher Conferences

There are many ways to engage with families during conferences, one of which is around data. Below are some district recommended practices around sharing data with parents.

Prepare for the Conference 

• Practice sharing a report with parents.
• Know the purpose of each assessment, and be able to explain it in parent-friendly language. (See next page for suggestions.) 
• Know key assessment terms like “mean,” “benchmark,” and “percentile.” 
• Decide which reports best show the information you need to share with parents. 
• Choose examples of student work that demonstrate the student’s skills and knowledge. 
• Help arrange for any needed translation assistance from your Bilingual Resource Specialist. 

Emphasize Growth and Learning 

• Start the conference on a positive note. 
• Call parents’ attention to evidence of growth and opportunities for future growth. 
• Describe how assessment results connect to what the class has done or will be doing. 
• Share any class or student goals that you have set that are related to the assessment. 
• Let parents know how the student is performing in relation to district scores for their grade level. For example, you could say, “Your child is performing slightly below district benchmarks for a typical 6th grader.” 

Use multiple sources of evidence 

• Use assessment results as one piece of evidence in the larger conversation about the student. 
• Explain how assessment results and student work contribute to decisions about differentiation, supplemental support, or specific interventions.

 Follow up 

• Spend the last few minutes of the conference discussing how you and the family will collaborate and communicate. 
• Suggest one or two simple but effective strategies that parents can use at home.

this is an excerpt from MMSD's Using Data in Parent-Teacher Conferences