It is critical for schools and districts to have access to data about the performance of their school so they can make informed plans for school improvement. Currently, data collection by district education departments is sporadic, and understanding gleaned from that data is rarely shared with schools and their communities.

Link has developed a unique and innovative process which measures individual school performance against common indicators of school success across the country. Our School Performance Review (SPR) introduces evidence-based data collection in the areas of school management and leadership, teaching and learning, and community participation. It enables communities, schools, district officials and national education departments to develop individual school and collated district performance reports. These are used to address weaknesses and make the best use of scarce school and district resources to meet each school's individual needs.
 
SPR is now being implemented in over 1,000 schools in our African projects, and has been adopted by national and provincial governments in South Africa, Malawi and Uganda. In each country, the process has been contextualized to fit within and add value to education policy. The general steps of the process are outlined in the diagram below.