Which targets learning outcomes, such as grades and performance and standardized test scores?

• A. Achievement data
• B. Attainment or access data
• C. School culture and climate data
• D. Relational data

Answer: (A)

The key idea is distinguishing data that measure what students actually learn from data that describe opportunities or contexts. Achievement data are the metrics that reflect learning outcomes—grades, performance indicators, and standardized test scores. These are direct evidence of whether students are meeting learning standards, comparing how much learning has occurred across classrooms or schools.

Attainment or access data, by contrast, focus on whether students have had the opportunity to learn or the credentials they’ve earned, rather than on the actual learning demonstrated. School culture and climate data describe the learning environment and students’ sense of safety, belonging, and engagement, which influence learning but don’t measure learning outcomes themselves. Relational data look at the interactions and relationships among students and staff, again not the learning results.

So when the question points to targets like grades, performance, and standardized test scores, it points to achievement data because that category specifically tracks learning outcomes.