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Value-Added Assessment in North Carolina The ABCs of Public Education is North Carolina’s primary school improvement program with the goals of providing strong local school accountability, an emphasis on mastery of basic subjects and as much local decision making as possible. The ABCs program became law in 1995 and has been modified and improved to better portray school performance and to ensure that its measures are as fair and accurate as possible. Formulas are used to measure the academic growth and achievement for all schools. The North Carolina system is primarily based on the increase in the average score of a group of matched students in two successive years, with minor statistical adjustments.i Both growth and “bottom line” performance are recognized under the ABCs. Schools are rewarded based on growth in student achievement and school assistance teams are assigned to the lowest performing schools. Working with the Division of School Improvement, the NC State Board of Education assigns state assistance teams to low performing schools. These teams work full time in the schools to improve student achievement and to build capacity of the staff for continuous improvement. Schools also are recognized for the percentage of their students’ scores at or above grade level or proficiency standards. Monetary rewards are provided to high performing or improving schools. In all schools that attain the High Growth standards, certified staff members each receive $1,500 incentive awards and teacher assistants receive $500. In all schools attaining the Expected Growth standard (but less than High Growth), certified staff members each receive $750 and teacher assistants receive $375.ii In November of 2005, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced a new pilot program that will allow selected states to use growth models to determine if their schools and districts are meeting No Child Left Behind performance targets. North Carolina is one of two states whose proposed growth model was accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information on the use of growth models under No Child Left Behind and on North Carolina’s NCLB growth model click here. Links to important websites Helen F. Ladd, “Policy Brief on Accountability for Symposium on School Finance and Organizational Structure, New York State,” Duke University, February 2004, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – homepage, North Carolina 's growth model proposal, Public Schools of North Carolina “ABCs Accountability Report Background Packet,” Public Schools of North Carolina “The ABCs of Public Education: 2002-03 Growth and Performance of North Carolina Schools,” Executive Summary, June 4, 2004, Public Schools of North Carolina “Accountability Brief-Setting Annual Growth Standards ‘The Formula',” March 2003, Public Schools of North Carolina “Accountability Brief-Setting Annual Growth Standards ‘The Formula',” March 2003, i Karen Helland, "Value-Added Assessment," School Directors' Handbook, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, 2001, p.5 back to map |
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© 2004 Center for Greater Philadelphia |