Growth Model Roll-Out:
Lessons Learned (so far) in Massachusetts
Robert Lee, MCAS Chief Analyst
Massachusetts Department of Elementary &
Secondary Education
June 22, 2010
Stages of Familiarity
1. Unaware
2. Aware
3. Understands
4. Can Act
5. Can teach others
Raising Awareness:
(You only get to introduce yourself once)
Growth Measure
Purpose
• To supplement the various current metrics used
to report MCAS results (scaled scores,
performance level results, composite
performance index), which indicate
performance at a point in time, with a metric
that indicates the extent to which performance
has changed over time.
Growth Measure
Purpose
• To supplement the various current metrics used
to report MCAS results (scaled scores,
performance level results, composite
performance index), which indicate
performance at a point in time, with a metric
that indicates the extent to which performance
has changed over time.
Student Growth Percentile Targets for 3rd
Graders Mathematics
Annual Growth Percentile needed to be proficient
Above
100 Needs
Proficient Proficient Improvement
Warning
Typical
Growth
Math SGP to be 240 in Gr 6 Math SGP to be 240 in Gr 5 Math SGP to be 240 in Gr 4
How educators first becomes aware of a
growth model matters
Growth Model Purpose: Ideals
Growth Model
Purpose: Fears
• This is easy to use • This is impossible to
• This is the only fair way to understand
compare test results • The president wants to use this
longitudinally to “evaluate” me based on test
• To empower educators to scores
understand test results so they • They are going to use this to
can improve curriculum and fire me
instruction
Tips for introducing growth
• Pilot the new measure • Don’t use technical
with selected volunteer language, graphs in
districts introductory meetings
• Emphasize the potential • Try not to use growth for
constructive uses for accountability before
those who understand and educators understand it
can act on this data • Try to make reports that
• Find organic metaphors: are modern, colorful and
– Pediatric growth easy to use
– Academic Peers
Much like changes in height vary by age and
gender, academic growth varies by grade.
Source: www.coach.org
Different parts of children grow at different
rates at different times of life
Source: www.coach.org
Otherwise Adults would look like the figure
on the far left
Source: www.coach.org
Sample Student Level Report
About this copy
Growth Model Roll-Out: Lessons Learned (so far) in Massachusetts — CCSSO, June 2010.
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