1. The use of Value-added Analysis to maximize student learning and narrow achievement gaps in Minnesota Dave Heistad, Ph.D., Executive Director Research, Evaluation and Assessment Minneapolis Public Schools And Researcher for the Value-added Research Center (VARC) University of Wisconsin January 19, 2012 1

2. History of Value-Added Use in Minneapolis Public Schools MPS uses the NWEA levels tests/MAP to compare growth versus national norm growth - see www.mpssir.com (1996 – present)www.mpssir.com Evaluation of the Public School Academy (1992-94) longitudinal achievement effects Teachers who Beat the Odds in 2 nd Grade Reading (1997-99) Quality Performance Awards (1995–2005) multiple measures with school awards Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) School with grade level and individual teacher bonuses (2006-2010) Teachers who Beat the Odds in Kindergarten Literacy (2006-2010) – see http://rea.mpls.k12.mn.us/beat_the_odds.htmlhttp://rea.mpls.k12.mn.us/beat_the_odds.html Grade level value-added to all Principals (2009-10); no stakes Teacher level value-added to 6 pilot sites (2011-12); no stakes 2

3. How do we measure student performance? 3

4. Minnesota Covariates (“fairness factors”) Previous year test scores Free/reduced price lunch Special Education English Language Learner Disability Status Race/ethnicity Gender Homeless/highly mobile 4

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8. Key Questions Can value-added be done with local assessments like the MAP – yes, VARC is working with NWEA on this Yes, value-added can be reported at the school level (MPS does this) What about untested subjects? – Hillsborough FL has 600 assessments – MPS does Value-added with Kindergarten and Grade 1 8

9. Validity of MPS Beginning of Kindergarten Assessment 9 Measures (MPS Beginning of Kindergarten Assessment) N= 1674 8 months later (EKA Total Literacy) 1.75 years later (Gr. 1 Oral Reading) 2.75 years later (Gr. 2 MAP Reading) 3.75 years later (Gr. 3 MCA Reading) Alphabetic Principle - letter names - letter sounds.74.66.71.60.64.54.58.52.50 Phonological Awareness - initial sounds - rhyming.70.63.65.60.58.53.63.57.59.63.57.58 Vocabulary - picture naming.61.47.54.52 Listening Comprehension.63.52.65.67 Concepts of Print.55.49.55.57 Total Literacy.81.74.70.65

10. Recommendations Test all students in the Spring with MCAIII Use a complete value-added model Consider using the Bush Foundation/ VARC analytics that are already in place in MN Produce value-added at the School and Grade Level team first Have an “opt in” for classroom level value- added data as teacher linkages are verified. 10