States Weigh ‘Value Added’ Models

Washington

Representatives from 34 states gathered here last week to discuss options for rating schools based, in part, on the gains that individual students make from year to year.

The meeting, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers’ state-services and technical-assistance division, reflects the mounting enthusiasm for growth or “value added” models that judge schools on how much they contribute over time to students’ learning. ( "'Value Added' Models Gain in Popularity," Nov. 17, 2004.)

During the Nov. 15-16 event, participants heard from officials in states that longitudinally track the progress of individual students on state tests as part of their accountability systems, including Florida,...