In data-driven instruction, decisions about instruction should be guided by assessment data to improve outcomes.

• A. Increasing the number of standardized tests each year.
• B. Focusing only on classroom routines.
• C. Using assessment results to tailor teaching and enhance student achievement.
• D. Reducing feedback to students.

Answer: (C)

Data-driven instruction uses assessment information to guide teaching decisions so that instruction better meets students’ needs and improves outcomes. The best choice captures this idea by showing how assessment results are used to tailor teaching and raise student achievement. When you examine assessment data, you can identify who needs reteaching, who needs more challenge, where misconceptions lie, and how to adjust pacing, grouping, and supports to move learning forward. This creates a direct link from evidence to instructional change, which is what drives better results.

Other options miss that connection. Simply increasing standardized testing adds measurement burden without necessarily informing specific instructional moves. Focusing only on classroom routines neglects the essential step of using data to decide what to teach and how to teach it. Reducing feedback to students removes a critical channel through which learners understand their progress and adjust their efforts based on data.