NOTES: AFWG MEETING #9

February 11, 2015

12:30 4:00 p.m.
ITEM
Welcome

NOTES
Members present: Jeff Klein, Kevin Fitzgerald, Sally Maldonado, Heath Chasanov, Donna Johnson, Jason
Conway, Bill Doolittle, Ken Hutchins, Jay Owens, Gerri Marshall, Chantel Janiszewski, Penny Schwinn,
Ryan Reyna. Members absent: Ed Emmett, Joe Jones, Sharon DiGirolamo, David Ring, Theodore Boyer.
Member-at-large: Mark Holodick.
Jay Owens and Heath Chasanov were recognized for representing the AFWG during interviews with
various media outlets. The WBOC TV story on the new accountability system may be seen here:
http://www.wboc.com/story/28005593/del-considering-giving-schools-letter-grades
and the news article featuring Heaths quotes may be read here: http://www.wdde.org/72897-reportcard-grading-delaware-public-schools-coming

Part A metrics

Ryan led the continued discussion regarding Part A business rules. The following recommendations have
been made by the AFWG:
On track to Graduate
Average Daily Attendance (ES and MS only)
Definition: Total number of days of attendance for all students divided by the total number of
school days in a given year.
Students included: A student is counted present only when he/she is actually at school, present
at another activity sponsored by the school as part of the schools program, or personally
supervised by a member of staff.
On track in 9th grade (HS only)
Provide a bonus for schools whose at-risk students are on track
Extend deadline beyond June 30 (potentially July 31)
Account for extended graduation timelines delineated in students IEPs, which district will
identify during the appeals process
Student level data for at-risk students (as mentioned above) must be available prior to the
beginning of the school year
Participation rate
Include some level of gradation for rates below 95%
Provide a bonus for rates above 95%
Academic achievement
Consider counting AL 4 as higher value than AL 3
Closing achievement gaps
Support super subgroup in the methodology

Part B metrics

Ryan led the continued discussion regarding Part B metrics. The following summarizes the
recommendations for each metric:
Postsecondary outcomes
Use % enrolled (NSC data) with disclaimer regarding data source
Kindergarten Readiness
No decision at this point in time with further discussion needed. Please note that this measure
was strongly supported in the survey.
Dropout rate
No decision at this point in time with further discussion needed as to whether or not we include.

Narrative report
The AFWG was asked to consider what information should be included in this section (i.e. areas
to be highlighted by schools) and provide recommendations. This will be revisited.
Growth Model

Andrew and Brad from Education Analytics facilitated a discussion regarding the following decision
points:
Where we are and where we want to be
Recap of past discussions
o Model as it stands (school impact on student growth)
o What does this look like in terms of data
Small schools and statistical noise
Standard errors data
Peer effects
Reporting scale
Growth model aggregation
o Many measures, one school
Intro to scoring / standard setting
Initial recommendations include:
Providing information to schools by grade level, but OK with aggregation for accountability
Support shrinkage, or minimizing statistical noise in terms of small sample sizes
Communicate the growth methodology very clearly with external stakeholders

Next Steps

The slide deck is attached.

Homework:
Please consider what information should be included in the narrative spotlight section of the
school report card.
Please formulate additional questions and/or clarifications regarding the growth model the
call on 2/18 will be a check-in for further explanation and discussion.
**A summary reference chart on recommendations to date can be found on the last page of this
document.
Upcoming meetings:
February 18 11:00 a.m. -12:00p.m. Phone Call with EA
February 25 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m., Townsend Building, Library Conference Room

Summary of recommendations to date

Current Federal
Accountability - Adequate
Yearly Progress

Proposed Federal Accountability Part A

of DE School Success Framework (DSSF)

Proposed State Accountability Part B

of DSSF (data publicized, but not
scored) on redesigned school report
card)

Proficiency in ELA and Math

1) Proficiency in ELA, Math, Science and

Social Studies

1) Surveys Student, Parent and Teacher

Growth in ELA and Math

(value table model)

2) Growth in ELA and Math

2) Postsecondary outcomes

Attendance (ES/MS only)

3A) Attendance (ES/MS only)

3) Narrative report (i.e., programs,

sports, civic engagement)

4-year Graduation Rate (HS

only)

3B) On Track in 9th grade (HS only)

4) Social-Emotional Learning

3C-E) 4-, 5- and 6-year Graduation Rate

(HS only)

5) Staff attendance coming soon

4A-B) Growth to Proficiency in ELA and

Math (ES/MS only)

6) Dropout rate

4C) CCR success in HS (HS only)

7) Kindergarten Readiness