In educational settings, data-based decision making (DBDM) is important for promoting student success. It is a process of transforming raw data into information, and subsequently into knowledge that can be used to enhance teaching and student learning. However, for school leaders, implementing a DBDM process remains a significant challenge.

To address this challenge, we conducted a literature review that identified six recommendations and four key factors to help school leaders implement a DBDM process harmoniously.

The recommendations include:
1) Evaluating organisational priorities rather than easily quantifiable elements;
2) Designing a balanced dashboard incorporating various data sources;
3) Ensuring the quality of collected data;
4) Promoting a culture of continuous improvement;
5) Exercising shared leadership in professional learning communities;
6) Establishing a clear accountability system.

Regarding key factors, transformational leadership represents the first of these factors and comprises several dimensions: the school leader’s charisma in disseminating vision, inspiration through setting high expectations, intellectual stimulation, and consideration of individual characteristics. The second factor is developing a positive data culture, defined by trust and collaboration among stakeholders, using data for continuous improvement, clearly defining expectations and roles, and responsible data sharing and leadership competency. Collaboration represents the third factor and materialises through professional learning communities, open discussions, expertise sharing, and collective reflection. Finally, data coaches constitute the fourth factor related to effective DBDM process implementation. They facilitate mediation between data and teaching practices whilst attending and developing professional data competencies.

In this communication, we highlight the decisive role of school leadership in implementing a DBDM process, which requires a leadership style that shapes data culture, collaboration, and shared expertise within a continuous improvement perspective. In the discussion, we will address initial and continuous training of school leaders as an additional lever to promote the integration of this decision-making process in educational settings.

Keywords: Data-based decision making, School Leadership, Continuous Improvement.