Turning Data Into Action: Using PLDs and Last Year’s Results to Elevate Instruction
Turning Data Into Action: Using PLDs and Last Year’s Results to Elevate Instruction
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Monica Lang, Princess Anne High School
Shanice Sucre-Smith, Kempsville High School
October 2025
What are PLDs VDOE Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs), and how can they be your guide to student growth?
PLDs serve as a roadmap, outlining what students at each performance level can do and what they need next to grow. By pairing these descriptors with last year’s assessment data, we can clearly see patterns of strength and areas that require targeted support. For example, if data shows students struggled with reasoning through multi-step problems, the PLDs can guide us in designing warm-ups, exit tickets, and small group instruction that scaffold those specific skills.
Analyze Last Year's Results with a Critical Eye
Last year's test results are more than just a "report card"; they are a roadmap and insight to look beyond the raw numbers to identify patterns and trends. Last year's data can identify Content Strengths and Weaknesses, Subgroup Performance, and Item Analysis.
Here's a place to start...
Take a look at the PLD for your course area. VDOE Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs).
Pull up your archived trackers in Mastery Connect, and find last year's data (24-25) for your next unit's (25-26) assessment. (or use your school's data, or the city's data)
In your PLC, or individually if you are a singleton, you should analyze your data to identify the most missed questions and potential common misconceptions. It’s also important to review your assessment for possible gaps in rigor and use your PLDs to revamp or elevate student learning experiences, such as notes, warm-ups, exit tickets, and practice.
From Data To Action!
Once you've analyzed the data, it's time to translate your findings into a concrete plan.
Set Targeted Goals: Based on your analysis, set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. For example, "We will increase the percentage of students meeting proficiency in Standard A2.EI.6d by 10% this year."
Plan for Remediation: If data indicates that students require additional support on a specific topic, adjust your instruction accordingly to prioritize this need. Consider ways to spiral review and assess students' progress on identified areas of need as you move forward.
Implement Differentiated Instruction: Use the subgroup and item analysis data to create small groups for opportunities for reteaching, enrichment, or targeted interventions.
Check out the Coaches Corner in the DTAL September Newsletter for Unit 2 tasks created by your Secondary Mathematics Coaches in response to last year's assessment data.
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