The modified A-F school accountability model is now designed to update methodology and metrics to include both academic proficiency and growth, first considering recommendations from the legislatively created A-F panel, according to a press release. Results will be based on annual statewide assessments, graduation rates and other criteria such as college and career readiness. Next, the Board will hold three public hearings across the state to receive input on the proposed rule language prior to its expected implementation in the fall of 2015.
“Today we are proposing the language that will go out for public comment,” Dr. David Freitas, District 2 SBOE member, said in a press release. “We have due diligence to really study this issue. We need to get the public’s feedback and move forward from there.”
The A-F grading system has seen its share of controversy. In 2012, Monroe County Community School Corporation administrators filed an appeal with the Indiana Department of Education regarding one school’s grade.
In the same year, Christel House Academy, a charter school in Indianapolis, was initially going to receive a C. Then, the administration of former State Superintendent Tony Bennett found a loophole for the high-performing school, according to the Associated Press. In 2013, Christel House received an F.
The Indianapolis charter school dropped to a 71 percent passing rate, down from 81 percent in the previous year, according to data provided by the school.
The Strategic Planning Committee Chair Gordon Hendry reported the Board’s Balanced Scorecard is now fully prepared to track the state’s educational progress. Recommendations on the new teacher evaluation model will be presented to the Board in February. Statewide input is currently being gathered from stakeholder meetings regarding teacher evaluations, according to the press release.
The Department of Education staff reported staff performance evaluation results for the 2013-14 school year. The Department reported that just 2 percent of more than 57,000 Indiana teachers were rated as ineffective.
For the first time, the DOE tracked school retention rates for educators. The state average was 81.61 percent. The data that showed retention rates directly correlate with A-F school grade as A schools retain over 86 percent while F schools retain just 64 percent of teachers, according to the press release.
DOE staff also updated the process regarding the NCLB waiver renewal due March 31, committing to provide a final draft of the waiver application to the Board on March 12, 2014, according to the press ?release.
Hannah Alani
