Page 31 - The EDGE Fall 2024

Enhancing Transparency Through Data Visualization

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When there are fluctuations in student enrollment, graphs, and maps.
school districts face challenging decisions on
how and where to accommodate these changes. For instance, pie charts can effectively display
It is crucial to transparently communicate these percentages as a whole. However, similar to a pie
decisions to stakeholders, including the school dessert with too many slices, an abundance of data
board, families, students, and the public. groups can be challenging to digest. It's advisable
to use pie charts with fewer data groups when
Tough choices may involve converting a school appropriate. When faced with the choice between
to a specialized program, such as dual language, text and a pie chart, consider creating examples of
kindergarten-specific, or gifted and talented. each to aid in making decisions. Depending on the
Alternatively, it could entail opening a new school data, numbers and text can be overwhelming, so
or closing an existing one. Accurate data plays a selecting the most suitable format is essential for
vital role in guiding these decisions. effective communication.

What may seem like a straightforward change There are various data visualization techniques
can be perceived negatively if the district fails to beyond pie charts. Some examples include:
communicate transparently about the focus and
rationale behind the decision. Leveraging analytics • Bar Charts: Ideal for comparing sizes or
for communication can be immensely beneficial. displaying segments of information, bar charts
The adage that a picture is worth a thousand words offer a clear visual representation.
holds true in these situations. Analytics providing
a clear overview of a school's utilization (in counts • Area Charts: These charts illustrate totals as a
and percentages) and a map illustrating current share of the whole, providing insights into how
vs. future changes can help build trust by visually components contribute to the overall picture.
demonstrating the information. Connecting
this with financial analytics further aids in • Line Charts: Perfect for showing changes over
understanding the costs associated with making or periods of time, line charts help visualize trends
not making changes to boundaries, programs, and and patterns.
services.
• Tables: When data is too detailed to be
Employing data visualization to narrate your effectively described in text, tables provide a
district's story is crucial for transparency, structured way to present intricate information.
decision-making, communication, and innovation.
This storytelling method not only ensures • Maps: Utilizing pins on a map offers a
transparency but also facilitates faster mental straightforward visual of the locations of
processing, swiftly conveys insights, and avoids students, helping to spatially represent data and
overwhelming stakeholders with excessive details. highlight geographical patterns.
Various data visualization techniques contribute
to understanding and transparency, including Each visualization method serves a specific
presentations with bulleted information, charts, CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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