Summary
School districts face unprecedented uncertainty as ESSER funding ends, budgets tighten, and the future of AI reshapes classrooms. Amid shifting priorities and student needs that haven’t gone away, district leaders need a reliable way to stay on course. Key performance indicators (KPIs) in education provide that direction, serving as a measurable North Star to guide decisions, align stakeholders, and sustain student outcomes. This blog explores how districts can define and use KPIs effectively to move from uncertainty to clarity, even in challenging times.
[Estimated read time: 7 minutes]
Why KPIs matter when schools face uncertain times
I’ve never seen education leaders face as much uncertainty as they do today. With ESSER funding gone, districts are making hard calls about which promising programs to keep and which to let go. Federal budget debates and economic uncertainty have led many leaders to press pause on new initiatives. Meanwhile, the needs that students carry from the pandemic haven’t gone away.
And now there’s AI. Whether it’s an evolution or a revolution, everyone from teachers to students knows AI will be part of the future. Add that to the daily work of making sure kids are learning, and it’s no wonder many districts feel like they’re navigating in the dark.
At Resultant, the way forward starts with finding your North Star and knowing the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will get you there. And sometimes, the best way to understand that is with a little bit of humor.
From jargon to clarity: what KPIs mean in Education
I’ve spent nearly 20 years working in and around education, so I couldn’t help but laugh at an episode of Abbott Elementary where Principal Ava casually dropped the term “KPI” into a school board presentation only to dodge the question when asked what it meant, saying, “Let’s circle back.”
It’s a reminder that strategic planning terms like KPI can feel confusing or intimidating, even to those who are expected to use them. But at their core, KPIs are simply robust measures that help organizations stay focused on the outcomes that matter most.
School district leaders have great ideas, just like those fictional characters at Abbott Elementary. Sitting down to brainstorm, refine, and prioritize these ideas and turn them into KPIs can help districts think about how to get ahead of the curve.
Why your north star matters
A North Star is your clear, steady point of focus, the shared goal that drives every decision. It’s what keeps you on course when budgets are tight, resources are limited, and circumstances change overnight.
But a North Star is only as useful as the roadmap to reach it. That’s where KPIs come in. Some leaders worry that setting KPIs in uncertain times can feel counterproductive. After all, how can you measure progress when so much is in flux? The process of defining KPIs forces you to think about your approach and strategy. It helps you prepare for the unknown, keeps your teams aligned, and ensures that every action points to your district’s ultimate destination.
How KPIs helped the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
One example of how the right KPIs can illuminate a path is the award-winning Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS) dashboard.
IDOE wanted to redefine student success beyond test scores and graduation rates, capturing a fuller picture that includes academic mastery, career and postsecondary readiness, and civic literacy. Working with educators, community leaders, parents, and policymakers, Resultant helped identify 17 KPIs of lifelong success, such as reading mastery by third grade, meeting math growth goals, and completing college coursework before graduation.
Over two years, the team unified data from multiple state agencies, ensured quality and security, and built governance and sharing protocols. They then transformed the data into a user-friendly dashboard, launched as Indiana GPS in December 2022, that features interactive visualizations, scrollytelling (vertical multimedia stories users scroll through), and tools for both the public and educators.
Indiana GPS empowers stakeholders to measure school performance and student readiness in a transparent, data-driven way, and enables leaders to make decisions to uplift their schools and students. It equips administrators to delve deeper into areas of success and areas for improvement.
From brainstorming to prioritization
When Resultant works with schools and districts, we start by bringing the right people into the room (leaders, educators, community members, etc.) and facilitating structured, collaborative sessions. First, we brainstorm ideas. Then we assess each one for value and feasibility, discussing how well they align with vision and mission.
From there, we move to outcomes:
- What are you trying to achieve?
- How will you measure success?
- Which initiatives have the greatest likelihood of impact?
This process not only clarifies direction but also builds consensus. Leaders leave with an agreed-upon, prioritized list of initiatives and a clear path forward, one that balances long-term vision with near-term realities.
Conclusion: Get started defining KPIs in education
To help districts take the first step, Resultant offers a free, no-obligation 45-minute gap analysis call. It’s a quick way to see where you are in your data journey and where opportunities lie.
For deeper alignment, Resultant’s six-week Wayfinder strategy engagement brings stakeholders together to refine goals, define KPIs, and establish that all-important North Star. By the end, you’ll have a roadmap that prepares you for whatever comes next, even with limited funds.
Uncertainty may be the reality in today’s educational landscape, but drifting aimlessly doesn’t have to be. With help from Resultant to deliver the correct data, a clear North Star, and well-defined KPIs, your district can not only weather the storm but also chart a course to stronger outcomes for every student.
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