The Achievement Index and the Washington Achievement Awards

1. The AchievementIndex and the Washington Achievement Awards Sarah Rich, Research Director Washington State Board of Education

2. The Index. . . Accountability measures….. The Index ≠ AYP! Steps of Improvement Washington Achievement Awards MERIT Schools (SIG) Required Action Districts

3. Achievement Index Background • ESHB 2261 (signed into law May 2009) charged the SBE to create an accountability index that would complement or serve as a replacement to the federal AYP system

4. Achievement Index Background • The Index was introduced to the U.S. Department of Education in 2010.

5. How is the Index Different from AYP? Both based on state assessment data as reported to OSPI • Purpose is recognition and self assessment • Science and writing • ELL results included after three years • Improvement • Achievement vs. Peers • Inclusive of small schools • Punitive • Reading and Math content only • ELLs included • Unexcused absence

6. The Achievement Index Outcomes On the matrix, these are the row labels

7. The Achievement Index Indicators On the matrix, these are the column labels

8. Ratings for Outcomes and Indicators 1This outcome only applies to schools and districts that are authorized to graduate students. 2This indicator adjusts the outcomes using statistical methods (multiple regression) to control for five student characteristics beyond a school’s control: the percentage of low-income, ELL, special education, gifted, and mobile students. (Mobile students are those who are not continuously enrolled from October 1 through the entire testing period.) Scores are the difference between the actual and predicted levels of the Learning Index. Scores above 0 are “beating the odds” and negative scores are below the predicted level. Separate analyses are conducted for schools for each type of school (elementary, middle, high, multiple grade levels).

9. An Example Index Score

10. Handling Special Cases • Alternative schools – no peers rating • ELL students – excluded for first 3 years • High performing schools – improvement rating suppressed. • Same level of high performance year after year would show a 4 for Improvement (little or no improvement); could lower school’s overall Index score • Learning Index 3.85 for 2 years in a row • High school graduation rates of 94% for 2 years in a row

11. Results for Each Tier

12. The Washington Achievement Award • SBE and OSPI Sponsored • Awarded based on Achievement Index Performance

13. 2010 Recognition Categories 1. Outstanding Overall Achievement Special Recognition in Language Arts Math Science Extended Graduation Rates NEW for 2010: 6. Closing Achievement Gaps 7. Improvement

14. 2010 Washington Achievement Awards: 185 schools Special Recognition Lang. Arts 10 Math 15 Science 7 Grad. rate 34 Gifted 11 Closing Achievement Gaps 24 Improvement 15 Sarah

15. Special Recognition Awards • 2-year average of 6.00 in language arts, math, science, ext. graduation rate, gifted (among peers) * Minimum 2-year average rating to earn recognition INDEX

16. New for 2010

17. Improvement Award

18. Closing Achievement Gaps-- SES Look at difference in average of non-low income and low income rows (yellow cells) Compare

19. Closing Achievement Gaps – Race/Ethnicity Give recognition to any school that has minimal difference between the row averages in two consecutive years

20. On Line Resources • www.sbe.wa.gov • Index Lookup Tool • School District Map • Recorded Index Overview Webinar • Achievement Awards • Frequently Asked Questions • Business Rules • And more!

21. Accountability Lookup Tool

22. Using the Index • Recognition and celebration – beyond just the Achievement Awards (Renton) • Differentiated support from district (Highline) • Differentiated support from ESDs (ESD 113) • Building improvement plans (Tahoma) • Other?

23. Questions Contact Information: Sarah Rich sarah.rich@k12.wa.us 360.725.6311