Which practice supports addressing achievement gaps through data?

• A. Aggregate data only.
• B. Data disaggregation by student subgroups to inform targeted interventions.
• C. Data collection without actions.
• D. Ignore subgroup data.

Answer: (B)

Disaggregating data by student subgroups is the key to spotting where gaps exist and figuring out how to close them. When you break performance down by groups—such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English learner status, or disability—you can see which groups are lagging and tailor interventions to their specific needs. This might mean targeted tutoring, differentiated instruction, culturally responsive practices, or allocating resources to where they’ll have the most impact. It also enables ongoing monitoring to assess whether the chosen strategies are actually improving outcomes over time. In contrast, looking only at aggregate data hides disparities, while collecting data without acting or ignoring subgroup data ensures gaps persist.