School leaders’ and teachers’ attributions in making sense of norm-referenced school performance data. Do benchmarks matter?

Key Points

• Performance data in schools influences educational outcomes and decision-making, highlighting attribution differences.
• The study indicates that benchmarks play a crucial role in interpreting norm-referenced data across different educational contexts.
• Analysis of interactions between school leaders and teachers reveals varied approaches to making sense of performance data.
• Supports the need for improved frameworks that guide educators in utilizing performance metrics for better outcomes.