1. So what is PVAAS?
PVAAS measures a group of students as they move from one grade level to the next. PVAAS is not concerned with “Achievement” PVAAS is measuring “Growth”

2. Most Recent Year’s Group
November 2013
When measuring growth, PVAAS does NOT compare the achievement of different groups of students at a grade level. For example, the achievement of the most recent group of students in 8th grade is NOT compared to the achievement of the previous year’s group of 8th grade students.
Previous Year’s Group
Grade 5
Most Recent Year’s Group
Grade 5

3. Grade 4 Grade 3 Grade 6 Grade 5
November 2013
Grade 4
Grade 3
Grade 6
Instead, PVAAS measures the growth of each distinct group of students as they progress through grade levels over time. It compares the group’s most recent academic performance to their own prior academic performance to track their growth. In other words, the group serves as its own control.
Grade 5
PVAAS Statewide Team for PDE - Fall 2013

4. Measuring Academic Growth
Below Basic
Basic
Proficient
Advanced
To reiterate, PVAAS does NOT compare the percentages of students at various academic performance levels to measure growth. Each one of the four academic performance levels is a range of scores and….
[click to show movement of students] …students move around within these ranges as well as between ranges.
Rather, PVAAS is sensitive to subtle changes in growth, even within performance levels.
PVAAS does NOT compare the percentages of students at various PSSA performance levels to measure growth!
PVAAS Statewide Team for PDE - Fall 2013

5. Why Measure Academic Growth?
November 2013
Why Measure Academic Growth?
Because students don’t all start at the same place academically
If we’re going to measure the academic growth that students make, it’s critical to recognize that students don’t all start the year or a course at the same place academically.

6. Key Ideas for PVAAS Growth Measures
PVAAS Growth provides a measure of the growth of a teacher’s group of students
The analogy used by PDE is that of a relay “team”.
PVAAS is NOT looking at an individual team member’s time, but the time of the entire relay “team”. Did the score of the “team improve?

7. Concept of Measuring Growth
Higher Achievement
Higher Achievement
Lower Achievement
Lower Achievement
“Prior” Achievement
Teacher’s Group of Students
“Current” Achievement
Teacher’s Group of Students

8. “Achievement” Approach
High Achievement
Average Achievement
Low Achievement
(Achievement is based on the ending point of the group)

9. PVAAS Adds Another Value To Achievement… “Progress”
Below At or Above Growth Standard Growth Standard (Progress is based the starting point of the group)

10. 100 95
School A 95% 90 85
School B 85% 80
School C 80% 75 70 65 60 55 50
School D 50% 45
School E 45% 40 35 30 25
Achievement

11. -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 School D School A School C School B E Met the Standard1 2 3
Met the
Standard
For Growth
Did not Meet the Standard for Growth
Exceeded the Standard for Growth

12. 100
A 95% 95 90
B 85% 80
C 80% 75 70 -3 -2 -1 65 1 2 3 60 55
D 50% 50 45 40 35
E 35% 30 25
Achievement
Growth

13. PVAAS Quadrants (Growth & Performance)
“Slipping”
Exceeded the Benchmark for Performance
Did not Meet the Standard for Growth
“Excelling”
Exceeded the Standard for Growth
“Underperforming”
Did not Meet the Benchmark for Performance
“Improving”
Exceeded the standard for Growth
Achievement
Growth

14. Questions…

16. For Professionals who teach PSSA and Keystone Courses: grades 4 - 11
PDE Categories
A.K.A.
Scale
Teacher Observation & Practice
Danielson Framework
0 - 3
85%
65%
50%
Building Level Score
School Performance Profile (SPP)
15%
Teacher Specific Rating
Value-Added
(PVAAS) NA
Elective Rating
Student Learning Objectives (SLO)
20%

17. Until then…

18. For Professionals who do not teach PSSA and Keystone Courses: grades 4 - 11
Category
A.K.A.
Scale
Teacher Observation & Practice
Danielson Framework
0 - 3
85%
50%
Building Level Score
School Performance Profile (SPP)
15%
Elective Rating
Student Learning Objectives (SLO) NA
35%