ED YES Modifications

I am part of a group that is making major recommendations for revising the present ED YES accountability system.  Most of the work surrounds accreditation, and not Adequate Yearly Progress.  The meeting held on March 26^th holds some real promise for high schools in determining accreditation status.  The state seems to want to move away from the grading model into a model where schools are accredited, in a warning status, or not accredited.   However the most encouraging sign was a movement toward a value added model at the high school level.  It is not perfect because it is going to measure growth from the 8^th grade MEAP into a predictor line for the MME, but it will do away with the achievement change that has challenged us for years.  Basically, the MDE believes it can accurately predict the MME score of an 8^th grader based on the MEAP scores obtained from the 8^th grade student.  This model assumes nothing changes with the 8^th grade student in terms of intervention focused teaching and learning.  If these students could be identified early in the 9^th grade year it might give us all a shot at developing appropriate interventions to increase an 11^th grade student's score beyond the prediction provided by the state.  The bottom line is that a student who comes to a high school with a low skill set could grow and help a school's accreditation status without scoring a 1 or 2 which is presently the system.  It allows high schools the ability to chart growth of all students and target some of the neediest students early in high school.  There may be a great deal we can do with students at the lowest end in terms of extended time in low achievement areas or other possible areas.

I need further input.  As an organization, we have the ear of the MDE and they seem very willing to listen and implement this value added model.  While it does not address the 5000 ways to miss AYP, it is a start in measuring growth rather than just holding every student to the same standard at the same time.  The group seems open to different ways of reaching high levels of teaching and learning.  It is a start, but there is more work to accomplish.  The next meeting is April 24^th and I would like to track this blog as a way to gain valuable input from other high school administrators.