The Balanced Scorecard
State and national test scores measure student progress, but they are lagging indicators of performance, meaning that the results come too late to be used for analyzing systems or making changes for improvement. These types of test scores are like the profit/loss statement for a business - they may be historically true, but because they look backward, they don't show the whole picture and they don't suggest criteria for improvement.
The Balanced Scorecard is a way to use data as leading indicators for school improvement. Georgia's Leadership Institute for School Improvement uses the Balanced Scorecard as a tool in the Executive Development Program.
What is the Balanced Scorecard?
The Balanced Scorecard originated in the business
world, where it translates an organization's mission and
vision statements into a set of performance measures and
metrics. The Balanced Scorecard defines, measures, and monitors data that are often
overlooked, giving a more complete and robust picture
of performance. The Balanced Scorecard
is a strategic tool for performance management that aligns
activities to the vision and strategy of the organization,
improves internal and external communications, and monitors
organization performance against strategic goals.
Operating a school or a school district involves many complex interactions between district staff, principals, teachers, students, and the community. By using Balanced Scorecard measurements of a variety of criteria, you can begin to think about data in a new way and discover causes and effects that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Types of measures a district Balanced Scorecard would address are:
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Student achievement
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Teacher attendance
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Percentage of students retained
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On-time delivery rate of school buses
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Parent satisfaction
Linked here (and at right) is a compilation of potential performance measures/metrics around four major strategic goal areas: Student Achievement, Student and Stakeholder Engagement, Internal Processes, and Learning and Growth. This document can help start discussions and brainstorming around your individualized Balanced Scorecard development
Displaying BSC Data via Visual Reporting
School system data - student test scores, attendance
data, dropout rate, etc.- have long been in the public
domain. But who is explaining what these data mean? The BSC
provides a way to look at the bigger picture, leading to
better understanding of the district's results. The data can
be used to:
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Undertake root cause analysis of
identified deficiencies
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Involve the school board and the
community in developing solutions
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Communicate the goals, mission, and
vision to all stakeholders, including students
How to get started
For more information or to schedule an individual
consultation, contact Gale Hulme, Executive Director , at
(404)-385-4088 or at
gale.hulme@glisi.org, or Mike Vanairsdale, GLISI's Executive Development
Performance Consultant at (404) 385-2429 or at
mike.vanairsdale@glisi.org or Maggie Glennon, a GLISI
Performance Consultant at
maggie.glennon@glisi.org.
