Indiana has given final approval to the new rule that will be used to calculate how schools are measured for accountability purposes beginning with the upcoming (2015-16) school year. The Indiana State Board of Education approved the rule language during its May 7, 2015 meeting by a vote of 8-1.
Work developing the new rule began in August 2013 with the creation of a special A-F panel. Following approval of the new rule by the State Board, the language underwent a final review by the Attorney General’s Office, the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency, and was signed by Governor Mike Pence.
Per the new rule Performance and growth will be weighed equally: 50/50 for grades 3-8 and 20/20 for high schools. 60% of high school grades are based on other factors such as: graduation rate, performance on graduation qualifying exams, and students passing AP tests. Current grades are based mostly on student performance on ISTEP+ testing with only bonus points awarded for student growth.
Student growth is only measured for students attending school for 162 days or more and does not include students in 3rd grade, who didn’t test in previous year, or were retained in 3rd grade.
Per a federal requirement, schools can receive an “A” only if they show performance/growth for all subgroups of students including by race, special needs, free/reduced lunch, English Language Learners, and others.
The new rule will be used when calculating school accountability grades for the 2015-16 school year that should be released in late 2016.
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