Collecting data for the purpose of decision making has become an integral part of the landscape of education in the United States over the past decade. Many educators are swamped with such an overwhelming amount of information that it can be difficult to sort and analyze, leaving them floundering under wave after wave of data. The SWIS facilitator role was created to assist school districts with implementation and sustained use of SWIS applications. The facilitator works with schools initially to meet SWIS program readiness and then shifts to more of a coaching role to improve the use of SWIS for data-based decision making. One of the main goals of this study was to examine the differences between the expectation of the SWIS facilitator role as it is envisioned in the PBIS framework and the reality of the role in the field, specifically as it pertains to issues of equity. This exploratory mixed-methods study sought to answer the following research question: "How does the ideal concept of the SWIS facilitator role compare with the realities of the actual role for facilitators working in the field?" This research will inform facilitator training practices moving forward. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]