The Data Practices Audit engages district and school staff in examining current uses of data, and is an important first step in the process of establishing a district and schoolwide culture of data use. The Data Practices Audit includes the use of a Data Inventory and School Culture Profile to capture:

• The range of data used in schools
• Access to data
• Additional needs for data
• Alignment between available data and Essential Questions
• How data could be used more effectively
• Existing structures and practices that support a data culture
• Barriers to data use

In addition to providing valuable feedback, the Data Practices Audit provides districts and schools with a model for efficiently and systematically examining core elements of data quality, capacity, and culture. The Data Practices Audit can be administered to groups of schools within a district (e.g., elementary, middle, and high schools), or to the entire district. Stakeholders are provided with audit results in a workbook format that facilitates collaborative discussion around the data and also helps them develop concrete and appropriate action that can be taken to address identified areas of need.