Transcript
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Understanding and Updating School Grades for Florida’s Future
Jacksonville Public Education Fund March 10, 2014
www.jaxpef.org/SchoolGrades
About the Jacksonville Public Education Fund
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is an independent nonprofit organization that works to inform and mobilize the community to advocate for universally high-quality public education for all children in Duval County.
Presenters
• Trey Csar, President
• Dr. Jason Rose, Director of Data & Research
• Deirdre Conner, Director of Advocacy & Communications
• Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, Duval County Public Schools
Background
o School grades were introduced in Florida in 1999, the first A-F model for reporting school accountability in the nation.
o Numerous changes to the standards, tests, and formula over time have caused confusion over what school grades actually mean.
o Florida is implementing new standards and adopting a new assessment, making this the right time to update the school grading system.
Why is this important?
o In a recent survey conducted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund through UNF Survey Research Center, 42% of respondents polled said school grades would be the most important thing to them in considering a school to enroll a child in – more than personal recommendations or any other factor.
o Significant rewards and accountability sanctions are tied to school grade performance for schools and districts.
o Numerous changes have caused confusion and mistrust over what grades mean. Now is the time to make grades stable and meaningful moving forward.
inBRIEF: Winter 2014 Understanding and Updating
School Grades for Florida’s Future
Download at www.jaxpef.org/SchoolGrades
What’s happening at the Florida Department of Education
o January 8: Florida Education Commissioner, Pam Stewart, introduces outline for planned changes to school accountability model at Senate Education Committee meeting.
o February 18: Commissioner presents more detailed proposal for changes to school accountability model at state Board of Education meeting. Board also approves new Florida Standards at same meeting.
o February 20: Commissioner presents new plan to House Education Committee.
o March 18: Commissioner expected to select new statewide assessment.
Proposed transition timeline
Source: Florida Department of Education
Florida Department of Education Proposal
o Focus on student success measures such as student achievement, graduation rate and learning gains
o Report A-F grades based on the percentage of total points earned rather than a point total
o Reset grading scale to require a rigorous standard be met and avoid compression issues in current scale
o Periodic review of the scale
o Release grades for all schools in the summer
Current & Proposed (FLDOE) School Grades Formula: Elementary Schools
Category Current Formula* FDOE Proposed Formula**
Proficiency (Reading - All)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Math - All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Writing – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
Proficiency (Science – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Reading – All)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Math – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Reading – Lowest 25%)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Math – Lowest 25%) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Total Scale 0 - 800 pts. 0 – 100% (x/700)
* - School is lowered one letter grade below below what point total indicates if: • Fewer tham 50% of Lowest 25% demonstrate gains in reading and mathematics (or show annual improvement) • Fewer than 25% of students are reading at or above grade level • Fewer than 95% of eligible students are tested, and school earned enough for an “A”
** - No additional rules *** - Reading & Writing combined as “English/Language Arts” in new assessment
Current & Proposed (FLDOE) School Grades Formula: Middle Schools
Category Current Formula* FDOE Proposed Formula**
Proficiency (Reading - All)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Math - All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Writing – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
Proficiency (Science – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Social Studies – All) ✖ ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Reading – All)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Math – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Reading – Lowest 25%)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Math – Lowest 25%) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Accelerated Coursework (Participation) ✔ (0 - 50 pts.) ✖
Accelerated Coursework (Performance) ✔ (0 - 50 pts.) ✖
Total Scale 0 - 900 pts. 0 – 100% (x/800)
* - School is lowered one letter grade below below what point total indicates if: • Fewer tham 50% of Lowest 25% demonstrate gains in reading and mathematics (or show annual improvement) • Fewer than 25% of students are reading at or above grade level • Fewer than 95% of eligible students are tested, and school earned enough for an “A”
** - No additional rules *** - Reading & Writing combined as “English/Language Arts” in new assessment
Current & Proposed (FLDOE) School Grades Formula: High Schools
Category Current Formula* FDOE Proposed Formula**
Proficiency (Reading - All)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Math - All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Writing – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
Proficiency (Science – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Proficiency (Social Studies – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Reading – All)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Math – All) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Reading – Lowest 25%)*** ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Learning Gains (Math – Lowest 25%) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Accelerated Coursework (Participation) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
Accelerated Coursework (Performance) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Graduation Rate (Overall, 4-year) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✔ (0 – 100%)
Graduation Rate (Overall, 5-year) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
Graduation Rate (At-risk, 4-year) ✔ (0 - 50 pts.) ✖
Graduation Rate (At-Risk, 4-year) ✔ (0 - 50 pts.) ✖
College Readiness (Reading) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
College Readiness (Math) ✔ (0 - 100 pts.) ✖
Total Scale 0 - 1600 pts. 0 – 100% (x/1000)
* - Ibid. ** - Ibid. *** - Ibid.
FLDOE Proposal: Feedback
Positive Steps o Resetting grade scale to improve
stability, meaningfulness of grades
o Acknowledging need to establish scheduled, periodic review of scale and components
o Elimination of extraneous bonuses and penalties
o Suspension of sanctions attached to “baseline grades” in first year.
Concerns o Insufficient transition time to calculate and
communicate baseline grades in new system
o Lacks consideration about improving measurement & use of growth
o Elimination of individual components: o College readiness (Reading) o College readiness (Math) o Accelerated coursework (Participation) o Graduation rate (At-risk students)
o Potential use of old data for HS grades
State Legislative Updates
o Senate Education Committee bill (SB 1642) mostly reflects Florida Department of Education proposal. o Amendment to return credit for middle school accelerated
coursework participation & performance added.
o Alternate bill (SB 1368) filed Feb. 27 by Sen. Montford seeking to implement a three year transition plan, delaying school grades until 2017-2018.
o House Education Committee held School Accountability workshop on March 6. Expected to file bill for approval at March 12 meeting.
What’s next?
o Formula Issues: o Return increased focus on college readiness & at-risk
graduation to school grades
o Reconsider options how student growth is measured and used as an emphasis in school accountability
o Implementation & Alignment Issues: o Establish review “window” (ideally 5 years)
o How will alignment of teacher, school & district evaluation measures be addressed?
What’s next?
o Transition Issues:
o How will learning gains will be calculated for proposed “baseline year” grades without two administrations of the new assessment?
o Implement a full one-year transition period
o Increase public understanding and trust
o Time to improve the way growth is measured and used, and better align teacher and school accountability systems
o Ensure the transition to measuring growth on a new assessment is meaningful and sound
o Graduation rates, scores, other data would continue to be released
o Consider approaches used in other states facing similar transitions such as Texas
Questions
How to Get Involved
o Be informed: o Download the brief
o Stay abreast of current developments on the blog
o Be heard: o Write your elected lawmakers – visit the site to connect to an easy-
to-use tool
o Share this information with your friends, neighbors and coworkers
Find all of these resources and more online at www.jaxpef.org/SchoolGrades
Thank You!
www.jaxpef.org/SchoolGrades
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