From Students to Systems: Evaluating the Impact of Inclusive Practice

October 7th - 8th 2025

Hosted at The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL)

Moving from a desire to be inclusive to actually proving and refining the impact of inclusive practices is one of the biggest challenges facing international schools today.

On October 7–8, 2025, ISLES (International School Leaders of Student Support) hosted a special two-day collaborative retreat at The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) titled "From Students to Systems: Evaluating the Impact of Inclusive Practice."

Designed specifically for K–12 leaders committed to measurable inclusion, the retreat brought together cross-functional teams from international schools across the globe to tackle a critical question: How do we know our inclusive initiatives are truly making a difference?

A Unique Collaboration: Support Leaders Meet Data Specialists

Professional development for student support leaders and data/tech specialists rarely overlaps. This event intentionally broke that silo, bringing school-wide leaders of student support together with their school’s data and technology specialists to build a shared language and strategy.

Here is how the two days unfolded...

Day 1: Mapping Systems-Level Impact

The first day was exclusive to leaders of student support. Far from a passive listening session, participants actively engaged in collaborative mapping—defining what success looks like at every level, from individual student growth to school-wide policy. Teams unpacked real-world challenges, shared insights from their diverse school contexts, and pinpointed the exact outcomes they needed to track.

Day 2: Translating Goals into Actionable Data

On Day 2, data and technology specialists joined their support leadership partners. Together, the teams translated the high-level outcomes identified on Day 1 into concrete data collection, management, and visualization strategies. This hands-on working session gave participants a clear blueprint for capturing meaningful data without creating unnecessary administrative friction.

Key Takeaways

• Inclusion Needs Evidence: Moving beyond intention requires robust, structured data that demonstrates both student growth and systemic progress.

• Cross-Department Alignment is Key: When student support leaders and data teams build systems together, data collection becomes purpose-driven rather than an afterthought.

• Power of Peer Networks: Hosted right before the Data in Schools Conference at ISKL, the intimate event allowed leaders facing similar challenges to form lasting peer networks across international schools.

What’s Next?

We want to extend a huge thank you to ISKL for hosting us, as well as to all the participating schools for their open collaboration, expertise, and commitment to driving data-informed inclusion forward.

Interested in joining future ISLES events or becoming part of our global volunteer-led community? Explore our upcoming quarterly professional learning sessions, mentorship programs, and membership opportunities on our site! Not a member yet? Join us here.