ARETGroup

Launching a brand-new, evidence-informed educational program is never simple—especially when it’s a first-of-its-kind initiative like the Lab School at James Madison University. For Dr. Donica Hadley, Executive Director, the data systems challenge was clear: how to capture assessments, school records, and meaningful feedback from students, families, and educators in a way that can evolve alongside the program's growth. 

“At the start, we had nothing,” Dr. Hadley explains. “We were using spreadsheets and Google Forms, but it quickly became clear we needed something more structured to organize all this data.” The Lab School at James Madison University opened its doors for the 2024-25 school year and have quickly expanded from 100 to 300 students across four high schools and multiple partners. Keeping track of program engagement and individuals needs became increasingly complex. Enter ARETGroup’s platform—what Dr. Hadley calls a “game changer for educators.”

Customized, Evidence-Based Tools
Unlike one-size-fits-all software, ARETGroup's platform was tailored to Lab School’s unique needs.

“They took the time to learn who we are and what we needed. The system was custom-made, but it’s also scalable for other schools.”

User-Friendly for Everyday Practice
Even educators who aren’t tech-savvy found the system intuitive. Staff now use it daily, integrating it into handbooks and workflows for registrars and counselors.

“It’s very user-friendly. Everyone can utilize it easily.”

Transforming Data into Action
The platform made it possible to track trends and generate reports for school boards, conferences, and even global presentations. Teachers use it for note-taking and goal setting, while AI tools help convert raw data into insights.

“Now we’re able to present data at school board meetings and national conferences. It’s right there, easily accessible.”

Anticipating Needs Before They Arise
Dr. Hadley praised the ARETGroup and members of their project consultant team’s proactive support.

“They were able to anticipate our needs before we even fully understood them. That has been a huge positive.”

A Game Changer for Education
With over 26 years in education, Dr. Hadley underscored the impact of data-informed practice:

“We’re always told to collect and analyze data, but we aren’t always given the tools. This platform finally makes it possible.”

Looking Ahead

The JMU Lab School is just beginning to explore the potential of evidence-driven data collection. For Dr. Hadley, the excitement lies not only in what the system does for her students today, but also in what it can do for schools everywhere tomorrow:

“I can’t wait to see where we go from here—and I’m excited to show other school systems how it can benefit them. It’s truly a game changer.”