Measuring student achievement through assessments is a cornerstone of the President's agenda for education reform. The Performance Measurement Initiative (PMI) has been created to assure the development of an accountability system for our nation's high school and postsecondary students, including those who pursue a Career and Technical Education (CTE).

Overview

This initiative will explore the feasibility of a next generation performance accountability system for secondary and postsecondary education, including CTE. This system is intended to enhance the ability of states, districts, secondary schools, and postsecondary institutions to gather and report data on students' academic performance, transition to postsecondary education and employment, and other important outcomes.

PMI complements the U.S. Department of Education's Performance-Based Data Management Initiative, which will replace a variety of data collection tools used for state formula grant programs.

PMI is being led by the Academy for Educational Development in partnership with MPR Associates, Inc. and the Center for the Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University.

Outcomes and Products

• Increased accountability for academic and technical education programs at the secondary and postsecondary levels
• A report on the current structure of state accountability systems for secondary and technical education
• The feasibility of performance measures that provide relevant information on student achievement while taking into consideration the unique reporting capacities, data management capabilities, and institutional missions of states, local educational agencies, and community and technical colleges

Completed Projects

• Identification and Analysis of Data Collection instruments used in six states for Perkins III sub-indicators.
• Analysis of the feasibility of using the Common Core Data measure (UI Data) in two states.

Timeline
October 2001-October 2005

Contact
Wade.Smith@ed.gov

Website
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html