What is not one of the purposes of using data?

The purpose of using data in an educational context primarily revolves around enhancing student learning and improving teaching practices. Data is a powerful tool for identifying areas that require additional support or improvement, which helps educators make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts. This allows for targeted interventions and resource allocation, ultimately leading to better outcomes for students.

Informing instructional decisions means using data to understand what teaching strategies are effective, which can be crucial for tailoring lessons to meet the diverse needs of students. It also plays a vital role in tracking student progress over time, allowing teachers to monitor growth and make necessary adjustments to their teaching methods based on the performance trends observed.

Receiving recognition for student performance, however, does not align with the core purposes of data utilization in education. While the acknowledgment of achievements can be a positive outcome of effective teaching and learning, the primary goal of data use should focus on improving educational practices, supporting student development, and guiding instructional choices rather than seeking external validation. Thus, this option stands out as not being a fundamental objective of utilizing data in educational settings.