Analysis of the Design, Implementation, and Effects of a Data-Based Staff Development Program

This article describes the design and effects of a data-based approach to training school staff in the implementation of innovative programs. In addition to illustrating the use of this particular approach, the article summarizes the findings from a study of the efficacy of the Data-Based Staff Development Program. This program is designed specifically to help school personnel improve their knowledge and skills in providing learning experiences that are adaptive to student differences, particularly in the context of the effective mainstreaming of exceptional students in regular classrooms. Data from the study are reported as preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the data-based approach to staff development, and future lines of work in this area are suggested.