Professional Oklahoma Educators

NCLB Growth Models Approved

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in June announced approval of two high-quality growth models, which follow the bright-line principles of No Child Left Behind. Michigan is immediately approved to use the growth model for the 2007-2008 school year. Missouri's growth model is 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 Adequate Yearly Progress determinations for the 2007-2008 school year.

In May 2006, North Carolina and Tennessee received approval to implement their growth models for the 2005-2006 school year. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida and Iowa received full approval to implement their growth model for the 2006-2007 school year. Additionally, Ohio submitted a quality growth model that was conditionally approved by the Department in May.

Ohio first implemented the value-added component of the state’s report card system for the 2007-2008 school year. Value-added measures the progress districts and schools have made with their students even though the students may not have met the proficiency standard. The results can help teachers pinpoint problems and determine successes.

“Our value-added results recognize that districts and schools may be making significant improvement even though they have not met the proficiency target,” Ohio Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman said. “Where test scores demonstrate one point in time, this measure shows how much progress is made over time.”

See the U.S. DoE press release:
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/06/06102008.html

Read press releases from the Ohio Department of Education’s explaining their value-added model:
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=1&Content=54649
https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/view.asp?id=155828229572675981