May 8, 2014 www.fldoe.org/evaluation

1. Florida’s School Grading System UpdatesFlorida Organization of Instructional Leaders (FOIL)Lake Mary, Florida May 8, 2014 www.fldoe.org/evaluation

2. Today’s Topics • Part 1: Where We Are Now • School Grades (2014) • Part 2: Where We Are Heading • Accountability Changes for 2014-15

3. School Grades 2014

4. School Grades Basic Model 50% 50%

5. Elementary Schools 2013-14 (No Changes)

6. Middle Schools 2013-14 (No Changes)

7. High Schools 2013-14* • K-12 and 6-12 combination schools are graded on a 1700-point model, which adds middle-school acceleration to the HS model.

8. School Grading Scale Elementary, Middle, Combination (No Changes) Elementary Schools = 800 possible points Middle Schools = 900 possible points Combination Schools (K-12, 6-12) = 1700 possible points

9. School Grading Scale High Schools High Schools = 1600 possible points High schools on the 800 point scale will also be subject to this provision.

10. School Grades Changes Already Scheduled for 2013-14 Changes scheduled in 6A-1.09981 • Include U.S. History in the high school model at 100 points (in the “other” 50%) • Reduce the points for acceleration to 200 points • Increase the grade scale for high schools (type 03) as more than 75% of high schools were an A or B

11. Changes Required in State Legislation Cell Size (s. 1008.34, F.S.) • Re-set at 10 in reading and math performance and gains as a criterion for receiving a grade Co-located Schools (s. 1008.34, F.S.) • Co-located schools have separate MSID numbers but operate at the same physical site. If one or more schools at the same site would not qualify for a grade or a school improvement rating, then student performance data for all of the schools will be aggregated and all of the schools will receive the same school grade.

12. Co-located Schools • In applying the school-grading provision for co-located schools, the Department of Education will consider only those co-located schools with students enrolled at tested grade levels. • When a co-located school does not qualify for a grade because the school has too few students to qualify for a rating or a grade, a single grade will be calculated for all co-located schools at the same site (s. 1008.34(3)(a)3). • The combined grade will include assessment data for all co-located schools at the same site. • The Department will work with districts to identify co-located schools.

13. School Grade Change Required by ESEA Percent Tested (Participation Rate) • Previously applied only to full-year-enrolled students in the school grades calculation. • ESEA requires that the percent-tested figure apply to all students enrolled at the school who would be eligible for testing, not just to students who were full-year-enrolled. • To comply with ESEA, we would apply the same calculation for percent-tested that Florida previously used in AYP reporting.

14. Safety Net Provision Extension of One-Letter-Grade-Drop Limit • Under the provision, a school’s assigned grade may be no lower than one letter grade below the grade that the school was assigned in the previous year.

15. Postsecondary Readiness Cut Scores Updated in Rule 6A-10.0315, FACEffective for students taking the assessments after 10/22/13(Revised Cut Scores are in Red) 15

16. School Improvement RatingsRule 6A-1.099822 • Alternative schools (including alternative charter schools) choose whether to receive a school grade or a school improvement rating. • ESE center schools also choose whether to receive a school grade or a school improvement rating (rule: 6A-1.099828). • Comparison of Reading and Mathematics learning gains. • The learning gains of students in the school are compared to the learning gains of those same students in the prior year. • A school must have at least 10 students in reading and at least 10 students in math with required scores to receive a rating. Accountability Research and Measurement

17. School Improvement Ratings • Improving • 5 points or more increase in percent making learning gains in both reading and mathematics • Maintaining • Less than 5 points increase or decrease in percent making learning gains in reading and mathematics • Declining • 5 points or more decrease in points earned for percent making learning gains in reading and mathematics The final rating is no higher than the lowest-rated subject. E.g., if reading is “improving” but math is “declining,” the final rating is “declining.”

18. Use of Assessment Results in a Home School’s Grade • If an alternative school chooses a school improvement rating, achievement scores and learning gains of students at the alternative school are included in the home school’s grade. • (Not applicable to alternative charter schools) • “Home school” is the school to which the student would be assigned if he/she were not enrolled in the alternative school.

19. Reporting Home School Data • School districts are required to report this information on annual student database submissions (Survey 3 – February FTE reporting period). • “School Number, Zoned School” • “District Number, Zoned School” • The process to identify Alternative schools and ESE centers for 2013-14 is nearing completion.

20. Legislative Changes School Improvement Ratings for 2013-14(s. 1008.341, F.S.) (Rule 6A-1.099822) Percent Tested • Revised to 80% for school improvement ratings. • Schools that test less than 90% are not eligible for “improving” rating. High School Retakes • High school retakes scores (for graduation tests) will now be included in learning gains calculations for school improvement ratings. These changes are intended to increase the number of schools that qualify for a rating.

21. ESE Centers: Accountability • Rule 6A-1.099828, F.A.C. - new rule to implement s.1008.3415, Florida Statutes • Defines ESE center school for accountability purposes • Process to identify ESE center schools • ESE centers choose whether to receive a school grade or a school improvement rating • School improvement ratings for ESE centers are calculated the same as for alternative schools under Rule 6A-1.09981 • Crediting back scores to home schools: Scores for students at ESE centers that choose a rating are credited back to home schools, except for scores at emergent levels on the FAA for students who have never been enrolled in a school other than an ESE center during their time in the district Accountability Research and Measurement

22. Definition of ESE Center Rule 6A-1.099828, F.A.C • ESE center schools are designed specifically to meet the needs of students with disabilities. • An ESE center school is a separate public school in which all students in grades K-12 in attendance are identified as students with disabilities. • For separate day schools to qualify as ESE centers, all students in grades K-12 are reported on the “Exceptional Student, IDEA Educational Environments” data element as attending a separate school (Code D). Accountability Research and Measurement

23. Identification of ESE Center Schools • Preliminary list of ESE center schools developed by the department based on student data from survey 2. • School districts have the opportunity to provide input annually on the schools identified. Accountability Research and Measurement

24. Use of Assessment Results in a Home School Grade • Scores credited back to home school if ESE center chooses a rating instead of a grade (not applicable to charter ESE centers). • Exception: No crediting back for scores at level 1-3 on the FAA if student has always been enrolled in an ESE center while in the district. • The home school is the school to which the student would be assigned if he/she were not enrolled in the ESE center school.

25. School Accountability Changes for 2014-15 and Beyond

26. Revised School Accountability • Governor’s Accountability Summit and Executive Order • Recommendations to provide stability and clarity with the transition to a new assessment • Pursue Florida’s course of action regarding English Language Learners (ELL) in the ESEA waiver • Recommendations to ensure the accountability system is fair and transparent and promotes improvement in student outcomes • SB 1642 provides the framework for the updated school accountability system

27. School Accountability Transition SB 1642 provides for transition to a simplified, more transparent school grading system designed to promote college and career ready students using the new Florida Standards: • Current system will remain in place through the end of 2013-14 school year when FCAT 2.0 (Reading, Writing and Mathematics) expires. • When Florida students take the new assessment for the first time, student performance level expectations (“cut scores”) will not yet exist • Setting student performance level expectations first in the summer immediately following the first administration of the new assessment, • New baseline calculation of School Grades in fall 2015, which accurately reflects student performance on the new standards and assessment, not simply a statistical link back to old expectations • This baseline, informational approach in the first year, provides everyone – parents, schools, districts, the general public – a clear understanding of a student’s and a school’s starting point on the new, more rigorous standards and assessments – truth in advertising • It is this baseline performance that must be apparent and upon which schools must build to improve the outcomes for all Florida students

28. Spring 2014: FCAT 2.0 Administered Spring 2016: New assessment administered for the 2nd time Summer 2015: Standard setting begins to establish cut scores for the new assessment Spring 2015: New assessment administered Summer 2014: School Grades released with current formula and accountability measures Fall 2015: Baseline School Grades releasedbased on new assessment and new cut scores Assessment and Accountability Timeline 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 Summer 2016: School Grades released with consequences

29. School Accountability Transition Baseline 2014-15 School Grades • The transition plan includes no interruption in current support to underperforming schools through our Differentiated Accountability teams • School may not be required to select and implement a turnaround option in the 2015-16 school year based on the 2014-15 grade or school improvement rating • A virtual school or approved provider that receives the same or lower grade or rating is not subject to sanctions or penalties that would otherwise result • A district or charter school system designated as high performing may not lose the designation based on the 2014-15 grades • School recognition funding program will continue to be implemented • For purposes of determining grade 3 retention and high school graduation, student performance on the 2014-15 assessments shall be linked to 2013-14 student performance expectations.

30. School Accountability Revisions • Re-focus the School Grading formula on student success measures • Achievement • Learning gains • Graduation • Earning College Credit and/or Industry Certifications • Maintain a focus on students who need the most support • ELLs included in Achievement after 2 years • Establishes a learning gains calculation that (1) requires students scoring below grade level to grow toward grade level performance, and (2) requires students already at grade level to progress beyond grade level performance

31. School Accountability Revisions • Avoid provisions that over-complicate the formula and muddle the meaning of a school grade • No bonus factors or additional weighting that may raise a school grade • No additional requirements or automatic adjustments that may lower a school grade • Ensure that the level of performance associated with an A-F school grade is transparently evident • Report all school grade components as percentages, each worth a maximum of 100 points • Report A-F grades based on a percentage of points earned (e.g., 70%, 80%), rather than a point total

32. School Accountability Revisions • State Board will reset the grading scale to avoid the compression of the current scale • Periodically review the scale to determine whether the expectations should be raised to encourage increased student achievement

33. Elementary School Grades Model • The School Grade would be based on the percentage of total points earned • Provisions that may raise or lower a school’s grade beyond what the percentage of points would indicate are eliminated (no additional requirements; no additional weights/bonus; no automatic adjustments) • Writing is included within the English/Language Arts components

34. Middle School Grades Model • The School Grade would be based on the percentage of total points earned • Provisions that may raise or lower a school’s grade beyond what the percentage of points would indicate are eliminated (no additional requirements; no additional weights/bonus; no automatic adjustments) • Writing is included within the English/Language Arts components

35. High School Grades Model • The School Grade would be based on the percentage of total points earned • Provisions that may raise or lower a school’s grade beyond what the percentage of points would indicate are eliminated (no additional requirements; no additional weights/bonus; no automatic adjustments) • Writing is included within the English/Language Arts components

36. School Improvement Ratings Revisions • The school improvement rating shall identify an alternative school as having one of the following ratings : • Commendable: a significant percentage of the students attending the school are making learning gains • Maintaining: a sufficient percentage of the students attending the school are making learning gains. • Unsatisfactory: an insufficient percentage of the students attending the school are making learning gains. • Thresholds will be established in Rule • Ratings based on learning gains of the students at the school in ELA and Mathematics.

37. Implementation • Commissioner re-establishing advisory groups to receive input • LPAC – Leadership Policy Advisory Committee • AAAC – Assessment and Accountability Advisory Committee • LPAC and AAAC will meet in the summer and fall • Draft school grades rule to the State Board in Early 2015 • Standards setting meetings held Summer 2015 • Draft rule on school grading scale to the State Board in Sept./Oct. 2015 • 2014-15 Grades calculated in Oct/Nov 2015

38. Contact Information and Resources Questions about Florida school grading or other accountability processes? See information resources and guides at http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/ Contact the Bureau of Accountability Reporting at (850) 245-0411 or evalnrpt@fldoe.org 38