Unbridled Learning Accountability Model
Submission with important spreadsheet and attachments below
Kentucky’s new assessment and accountability system begins in the 2011-12 school year, using data from student tests and other measures. Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff continues to discuss the details of the Unbridled Learning Accountability Model with educators and stakeholders, particularly as it relates to the state’s ESEA Flexibility Request. This request will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by Nov. 14.
KDE has developed simulations based on existing test data, and districts can use these simulations to see the impact of the new model and understand how to use the data.
Here are some key considerations for the simulations:
• Data simulations: a critical step
Applying the data calculations proposed for the Next-Generation Learners component of the accountability model to existing data is a critical step to evaluating the proposed model and refining it.
The data simulation process has generated spreadsheets that allow Kentucky educators to see how proposed calculations for Next-Generation Learners look when applied to current Kentucky school data. {In attachment below)
KDE anticipates that reviewing the school data will contribute to the conversations about Next-Generation Learners and how to improve the model.
• Understanding the calculations first
While it is natural to immediately want to view the data spreadsheets, knowing first what calculations have been used to generate the spreadsheets will help with understanding the results.
Before examining the data spreadsheets, please read the concept paper, Unbridled Learning Accountability Model: With Focus on the Next-Generation Learners Component. The paper details the Next-Generation Learners component and what is included in the calculations. (In attachment below)
• Keeping the purpose in mind
The purpose of the simulation is to test the calculations of the Next-Generation Learners component of the proposed accountability model and analyze how the model performs with real school data.
Since testing the model with viable numbers is the goal, the full academic year accountability rule was applied. This accountability rule requires a student to be enrolled for 100 days before results are attributed to the accountability calculations for a school. All students accountable to a school are included.
IMPORTANT CAUTION: THIS DATA SIMULATON TESTS THE CALCULATIONS PROPOSED FOR THE NEXT-GENERATION LEARNERS COMPONENT OF THE MODEL. WHEN STUDENT PERFORMANCE DATA FROM THE KENTUCKY PERFORMANCE RATING FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS (K-PREP) ASSESSMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE CALCULATIONS, A DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENT RESULTS WILL OCCUR.
Should you have any questions, please contact Kevin Hill at [email protected] or by telephone at (502) 564-9853.