The Impact of a Continuous Improvement Process on Students

I have been wondering if the use of data folders can close the achievement gap because they are a tool that acts as a lever and is used to shift the student's mental model from a passive/teacher oriented point of view to an active/independent ownership point of view.
Is this direction valuable to the dialogue ongoing around student engagement and achievement? Maybe, but the data folders are actually a part of something bigger. Schools throughout the nation are using continuous improvement procedures. Baldrige, CCI, TQM- all of these are examples.
I would love to analyze the folders that exist- see what elements create passion, enthusiasm, and motivation in students.
My professor said I should look into the portfolio literature-

So today this is where I am at in my dissertation work.