"To ensure greater flexibility in tracking individual students' annual progress, growth models provide states with more options for a nuanced accountability system, while adhering to the core principles of No Child Left Behind."
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
In April 2005, Secretary Spellings announced a New Path for the No Child Left Behind Acta set of common-sense principles and approaches to guide states as they measure their progress in meeting the law's important "bright line" goals. These goals include assessing all students in grades 3-8 and once in high school every year, breaking down results by student subgroup to help close the achievement gap, improving teacher quality and informing parents of their options in a timely manner. Above all, they must lead to all students achieving at grade level or better in reading and mathematics by 2014.
One approach requested by many states is the use of growth-based accountability models. These models hold promise as reliable and innovative methods to measure student achievement over time. In Nov. 2005, Secretary Spellings announced a pilot program for qualified states to request the use of growth-based accountability models so their fairness and effectiveness could be evaluated. The Department received many requests by states to participate. In 2005-06, two states, Tennessee and North Carolina, were approved to participate in the pilot. In 2006-07, Secretary Spellings approved Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas Delaware, Florida, and Iowa to participate in the pilot. Additionally, Ohio was been approved on the condition that the state adopt a uniform minimum group size for all subgroups, including students with disabilities and limited English proficient students, in AYP determinations for the 2006-07 school year. Ohio was not able to meet this condition in time to include its growth model in AYP determinations in 2006-07.
As a condition of participation, the states must share data on which schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under each model, the original status model, and the new growth model. The Department will then gather this data and share it with other states and the public.
Based upon the success in the first two years of the pilot, in December 2007 Secretary Spellings invited all eligible states to submit a growth model proposal for the 2007-08 school year. The cap for the number of states that may participate has been removed. Six states, the District of Columbia, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania submitted growth model proposals that have been forwarded to a panel of outside experts in mid-April.
The nine states currently in the pilot meet the bright line principles of NCLB and their growth model proposals met all seven core principles outlined by the Department in November 2005. These principles are:
The Department is using a rigorous peer review process to ensure that
the selection process was fair and transparent for all participating states.
A panel of nationally recognized experts has been reviewing and making final
recommendations on states' proposals. The peer reviewers represent a wide range
of perspectives and expertise, from academia to the private sector to state
and local and community organizations. The panel for the April 2008 review includes:
Dr. Ann O'Connell, Chair, The Ohio State University; Dr.
Bill Auty, Independent Consultant; Charlie Barone,
Independent Consultant; Dr. J.P. Beaudoin, Research in Action;
Dr. Harold Doran, American Institutes for Research; Dr.
David Figlio, University of Florida; Dr. Catherine Freeman,
National Academy of Sciences; Dianne Piché, Citizens
Commission on Civil Rights; Dr. Chris Schatschneider, Florida
State University; Robin Taylor, Delaware Department of Education;
and Dr. Martha Thurlow, University of Minnesota.
The Department has conducted the review and approval process in a thorough and timely way:
A detailed description of the peer review guidance for the NCLB growth model pilot applications can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/growthmodelguidance.pdf
Last Modified: 01/29/2009
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