Your next task is to decide on the specific inquiry questions to guide how and what data your CLIP collects. Usually CLIPs choose 1 to 3 inquiry questions. Powerful inquiry questions are ones that you care about, are worth answering, invite you to explore your practice and positions, and draw you toward new insights. Formulate your questions to:

• contribute to student learning and success;
• address an issue on which the CLIP members can adjust their practice;
• fit the time frame available for conducting the inquiry;
• encourage the collection and expression of many viewpoints.

After developing a question, see if it passes the “So what?” test—that is, what meaningful contributions
to student learning and success are provided by the answers to this question? You may need to narrow
a question or reduce the number of questions so that you can address your core purpose and complete the inquiry within the school year.