MATH-READING PROFICIENCY ANALYSIS
OBJECTIVE:
Provide an analysis and interpretation of the Math and Reading Proficiency by School Year, Public School District, and Grade Level
Use the analysis to provide a recommendation based on the following scenario and questions:
The State of Iowa is considering a slight increase in funding levels for public schools in Iowa. This increase in state funding is expected to be used toward a possible tutoring program in reading and mathematics. The state legislators are interested in learning how the school districts are performing currently and at what proficiency levels before making a decision on whether or not the tutoring program should receive funding. The funding will not be able to support tutoring programs in all districts. The legislators believe only ten districts will be able to receive funding. The legislators also believe only certain grades should have the tutoring program available so not all grades will be eligible.
PROCESS:
For this exercise, you have been provided an Excel file containing the Math and Reading proficiency scores for Iowa school districts, grade levels 4-11.
Using the data, provide your analysis and interpretation using Excel functions such as Excel Tables, Pivot Tables, and Pivot Charts. Include slicers as needed to help filter the data where appropriate.
A good foundation can be made by providing general, descriptive statistics such as mean, median, counts, and totals. Of course, not all statistic measures can be applied, but if possible, they provide a good start for understanding a data set.
As you work with the data, take note of any limitations which might exist in the data itself. Within your written interpretation, be sure to comment on these limitations and possible solutions.
Based on the analysis, you should provide a written interpretation of the data. Your interpretation should provide your summary of what the data is indicating. NOTE: Do not simply provide details on what you did to analysis the data. You need to be able to provide a summary of what the analysis is telling you.
A good structure for your written interpretation includes:
- Summary and introduction of the situation
- provides a summary of the data itself and what data is being collected
- provides a summary of the situation described as a basis for the analysis
- provides a summary of the problem defined
- Analysis
- provides a foundation for understanding what the data is indicating
- provides descriptive statistics
- provides appropriate and relevant visual elements (charts, graphs)
- provides an opportunity to break down the data into suitable levels of granularity
- provides an opportunity to identify trends, relationships
- provides an opportunity to build comparisons
- Evaluate and Interpret
- indicate what results seem to be significant
- identify potential areas of limitations of the data
- using the analysis to determine potential options and recommendations
- using the analysis to justify potential options and recommendations
- Conclusion
- provide a brief wrap-up on your informed judgement and recommend a course of action
- presented in a clear and meaningful way
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- You will submit two files:Your Excel file demonstrating your use of various Excel methods, functions, etc.
- A Word document providing your overall analysis and interpretation of the data reviewed.