Case Studies: Overview | Dallas | Houston | Plano
The Plano Independent School District (ISD) in Texas designed its own growth model – the Plano ISD Achievement Growth Model to measure the academic growth of students. The Plano ISD growth model helps the district isolate and evaluate the effect of programs, interventions, and teachers on student performance. The growth model has also enabled the district to participate in the District Awards for Teacher Excellence (D.A.T.E) program – a grant program designed to reward campuses, grade-levels, and departments with monetary incentives for providing students with academic growth.
The statistical elements and uses of the Plano growth model are discussed in more detail below.
Statistical Elements of the Model
Plano ISD uses a variety of measures including TAKS, MAP and CogAT to determine the growth achievement standards for students with similar academic histories. These multiple measures are combined to produce the Plano Effect Scores (PES). The score compares a student’s previous year or beginning of year performance to his or her own end of year performance. The model possesses a number of unique attributes.
- Takes into account student’s starting points. Many growth models do not take into consideration the cognitive starting point of children. In Plano’s growth model, the district uses the Riverside CogAT measure to determine the cognitive ability of students in teachers’ classes. These cognitive measures are included in the growth model along with LEP status, special education status, and other demographic variables to chart the expected rate of growth for like groups of students within classrooms and campuses.
- Measures a wide range of abilities. The Plano ISD growth model is different from many other models because it uses multiple assessments to measure students within a very wide range of ability. The district believes that the TAKS test is an appropriate measure for a relatively small percentage of students (approximately 35%). As a result, the district contracts with the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) to use its computer adaptive Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). The MAP scale is able to measure students with a wide range of abilities.
Uses of the Model
Plano ISD participates in the District’s Awards for Teacher Excellence (D.A.T.E.) grant program to reward teachers for their daily efforts. The program rewards teachers for taking a team-based approach to increase student achievement in their own classes as well as campus-wide. Using the Texas Education Agency’s guidelines for targeting campuses, Plano ISD has selected 28 campuses to participate in the grant program based on at least one of the following criteria: (1) percentage of economically disadvantaged students; (2) rating of academically acceptable at least two of the last three years; or (3) performed lower than the district average on TAKS. Teachers can qualify for one of the following strands:
- Strand 1. Campus Progress (Grades K-12). Awarded to all campuses that meet the following criteria: the campus’ 2009 PES has met the district academic composite growth standards in reading, math, and science for students with similar academic histories. Awarded to campus teachers who do not quality for Strand II or Strand III awards.
- Strand 2. Grade-Level Progress (Grades K-5). Awarded to teachers on grade-level teams whose grade-level 2009 PES has met the district academic composite growth standard in reading, math, and science for students with similar academic histories.
- Strand 3. Department Progress (Grades 6-12). Awarded to teachers in math, English, and science departments whose departmental 2009 PES has met the district academic growth standard in the department’s subject for students with similar academic histories.
The following resources provide additional information on Plano’s growth model and how it has been used to reward effective teachers and schools.
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments, developed by NWEA, are unique in that they adapt to each child’s ability. They are currently used by 3400 school districts and educational partners across the country.
- This presentation provides an overview of the program, discusses funding sources, and delineates the Texas Education Agency’s criteria for targeting campuses.