STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Action Item April 16, 2013

SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment to 6A-1.09981, Implementation of Florida’s System of School Improvement and Accountability

PROPOSED BOARD ACTION

For Approval

AUTHORITY FOR STATE BOARD ACTION

Sections 1001.02, 1008.22, 1008.33, 1008.34, 1008.345, Florida Statutes

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Section 1008.34, Florida Statutes, requires the State Board of Education to specify, by rule, the grading criteria and point system used for school grades. In order to be aligned with the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waiver, the rule is brought forward with an amendment to revise the definition of “graduates” for the five-year high school graduation rate in the school grades calculation. The definition of “graduates” for the five-year graduation rate will be changed to include only standard diploma recipients as graduates. For 2012, the five-year graduation rate counted special diploma recipients as graduates (they are counted as non-graduates in the federal four-year rate).

Supporting Documentation Included: Proposed Rule 6A-1.09981, Implementation of Florida’s System of School Improvement and Accountability and School Grades Rule Changes Presentation

Facilitator/Presenter: Jane Fletcher, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Accountability, Research, and Measurement

6A-1.09981 Implementation of Florida’s System of School Improvement and Accountability.

(1) through c. No change.

d. For high schools, when data for the elements described in paragraph (4)(c) of this rule is available for ten (10)

or more students, the accountability system will also include graduation rates as measured by the federal uniform

graduation rate according to 34 CFR § 200.19 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01332),

which rate calculation is incorporated herein by reference, a five-year federal uniform rate, modified to include

special diploma graduates, an at-risk graduation rate, participation and performance in accelerated mechanisms, and

college readiness as measured by the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.), or other common

placement tests authorized under Rule 6A-10.0315, FAC., which is incorporated by reference herein.

2. through (4)(b) No change.

(c) Additional components that apply to high schools:

1. Fifty (50) percent of school grades for high schools (schools that include grades 9 through 12 among grades

taught) shall be based on the following components in addition to the components previously described in paragraph

(4)(a) of this rule:

a. High school graduation rate. School grade points for the high school graduation rate will be based on a

combination of two graduation rate calculations. The first graduation rate component shall be a four-year adjusted

cohort rate using criteria for the federal uniform graduation rate defined in the Code of Federal Regulations at 34

C.F.R. § 200.19(b). The second graduation rate component shall be a five-year adjusted federal uniform cohort

graduation rate. The five-year graduation rate will apply the same criteria as for the four-year graduation rate, except

that fifth-year standard diploma recipients will also be counted as graduates with one exception: Students with

disabilities who earn a special diploma will be counted as graduates in the five-year graduation rate component for

Florida's high school grades.

b. through f. No change.

2. The school grading measures and requirements described in subparagraph (4)(c)1. of this rule, shall be

applied to high schools for which there are at least ten (10) students included in the denominator of each component

described in paragraph (4)(c) of this rule. For high schools in which there are fewer than ten (10) students in the

denominator of any one of these components, except for the four-year graduation rate for at risk students and the

five-year graduation rate the school grade shall be determined using the components described in paragraph (4)(a) of

this rule and shall not include any of the components described in subparagraphs (4)(c)1. of this rule. However, for

high schools in which there are fewer than ten (10) students in the denominator of the four-year high school

graduation rate for academically at-risk students (sub-subparagraph (4)(c)1.b. of this rule), the grade point

component defined in sub-subparagraph (5)(c)1.a. of this rule shall be substituted for the grade point component

defined in sub-subparagraph (4)(c)1.b. of this rule. For high schools with at least ten (10) students in the four-year

graduation rate cohort but with fewer than ten (10) students in the five-year modified graduation rate cohort, the

five-year modified graduation cohort will be replaced by the four-year graduation rate modified to count special

diploma recipients as graduates.

(5) through 3. No change.

(c) Points for high schools in addition to the points described in paragraph (5)(a) of this rule (800 points

available).

1. Graduation Rate (200 points). The total possible points awarded for the combined graduation rate component

is 200 points: 100 possible points awarded for the four-year federal uniform graduation rate and 100 points for the

five-year modified federal uniform graduation rate. School grade points for annual growth or decline as described in

subparagraph (5)(c)7. of this rule will be applied to the points earned for the combined graduation rate component.

2. At-Risk Graduation Rate (100 points). The total possible points awarded for the at-risk graduation rate

component is 100 points. For this component, 0.5 grade points shall be awarded for each percent of students counted

as on-time graduates in the four-year graduation rate, and 0.5 grade points shall be awarded for each percent of

students counted as graduates in the 5-year cohort in the modified five-year graduation rate. School grade points for

annual growth or decline as described in subparagraph (5)(c)7. of this rule will be applied to the points earned for

the combined graduation rate component for at-risk students.

3. through (9) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1008.22, 1008.34, 1008.345 FS. Law Implemented 1008.22, 1008.34, 1008.345,

1008.36 FS. History–New 10-11-93, Amended 12-19-95, 3-3-97, 1-24-99, 2-2-00, 2-11-02, 12-23-03, 5-15-06, 6-

19-08, 11-26-08, 11-12-09, 6-21-11, 7-16-12, 1-17-13,

     

        

    

          

SBE RULE 6A‐1.09981 School Grades Rule Changes State Board of Education

April 2013

Jane Fletcher Interim Deputy CommissionerAccountability, Research, and MeasurementFlorida Department of Education

                        

                          

Overview

History of School Grades Changes School Grades Basic Models ‐ Models by school type (Change in Models)

Changes Scheduled for 2013

Proposed Rule Adjustment for 2013

Revision to meet ESEA requirements for reporting graduation rates

         Florida School Grades’ History of Change

                      

School Grades Basic Model‐Assessment‐Based Measures Included in School Grades for All School Types

          

                      

    

                                

                                                                                

            

                                              

Basic Elements of School Grades (800 Points)

• Performance – Reading, Mathematics, Science and Writing: ‐ Percentage of students scoring satisfactory or higher

• Learning Gains – Reading and Mathematics: ‐ Percentage of students

• Increasing an achievement level • Maintaining a satisfactory achievement level • Remaining at achievement levels below satisfactory who increased performanceenough to exceed expected growth Plus extra weighting for students who move up to level 4 or 5 on FCAT 2.0 or EOCs, and forprevious year’s low performers who make greater‐than‐expected gains ‐ Note: Students who decrease a level are not counted as making gains.

• Learning Gains of Lowest 25% – Reading and Mathematics: ‐ Percentage of students in lowest 25% who meet learning gains criteria (withextra weighting for students moving to the highest levels or making greater‐than‐expected gains)

              

Elementary Schools 2012‐13 (New for 2013 underscored ‐‐ already adopted in rule.)

   Middle Schools 2012‐13

   

                                          

High Schools 2012‐13*

* K‐12 and 6‐12 combination schools are graded on a 1700‐point model, which adds the middle‐school acceleration measure to the high school model.

         

                                                  

        

                  

                                   

                

 

           

           

“Other” Elements of High School Grades

• Acceleration – Participation in accelerated courses

• Percentage of students in AP, IB, and AICE exams, Industry Certifications, and Dual Enrollment – Performance in accelerated courses

• Percentage of students eligible to earn college credit

• Graduation Rate – Four‐Year Graduation Rate (Federal Rate)

• Percentage of students graduating within 4 years w/standard diploma – Five‐Year Graduation Rate

• Percentage of students graduating within 5 years w/standard diploma or special diploma (subject to revision for 2012‐13)

– At‐risk graduation rate • Percentage of at‐risk students graduating using both rates above

• College Readiness – Reading

• Percentage of on‐time graduates scoring college ready – Mathematics

• Percentage of on‐time graduates scoring college ready

            

                                                                    

                          

                                                                                                                 

                                  

School Grades Changes for 2013 (Pending Measure Underscored)

• FCAT Writing Standard re‐set at 3.5 • Scores for students at alternative schools electing a school improvement rating are

credited back for performance as well as learning gains for inclusion in the home schools’ grades.

• Reading performance threshold (25%) begins. • New achievement Level Standards for Science (FCAT 2.0) • New assessments (EOCs) and achievement levels – Biology, Geometry • Additional EOCs and Industry Certifications are included in middle school acceleration. • Geometry and Biology EOCs are included in math and science performance measures.

– Biology provides points for science for high schools. • Geometry is included in learning gains calculations for math. • Algebra 1 is included in determining Low 25% group for math. • Provision for One‐Letter‐Grade Drop Limit expires. • Learning gains requirement for the Low 25% will be reinstated. • The definition of “graduates” for the five‐year graduation rate must be revised to meet

ESEA requirements – standard diplomas only.

                      

                                   

                              

                                          

                                                                                                                              

                                  

Five‐Year Graduation Rate

• Calculated as a follow‐up to the prior year four‐year federal rate. • Uses the same denominator as the prior‐year four‐year federal rate, but accounts for

additional graduates in Year 5. • For 2012, counted special diploma recipients as graduates (they are counted as non‐

graduates in the federal four‐year rate). • We counted special diploma recipients in the five‐year rate to provide incentive for

schools/districts to continue to focus on this group of students. • However, as recently clarified by the U.S. Department of Education, ESEA requirements do

not allow Florida to count special diploma recipients as graduates in an accountability system that is used to meet federal reporting requirements.

• Under federal requirements, a student may be counted as a graduate only if the student meets all state requirements for a standard diploma. CFR Title 34, Part 200, Section 200.19

• Florida must therefore revise its definition of “graduate” in the five‐year graduation rate measure to conform with federal regulations.

    

                                                      

                               

Five‐Year Graduation Rate: Proposed Revision

• Calculate the five‐year graduation rate as a follow‐up to the federal four‐year graduation rate cohort from the prior year, but count only standard

diploma recipients as graduates (includes 5th year graduates).

• The five‐year at‐risk graduation rate would be

calculated the same way (counting only standard

diplomas in the numerator).

    

                                    

                                                            

                        

Five‐Year Graduation Rate: Additional Information

• Because the five‐year rate is a follow‐up to the prior year’s four‐year federal rate, the current year’s four‐year federal rate cohort is a completely different group of students. – In some cases, points earned for the four‐year rate (current year)

could be higher than for the five‐year rate (following up the prior‐year’s four‐year cohort).

– However, the five‐year rate can never be lower than the prior year’s four‐year rate.

    

                                                 

 

Five‐Year Graduation Rate: Additional Information

• Difference between average points earned on the five‐year rate as currently calculated and average points that would have been earned if special diploma recipients were classified as non‐graduates:

    

                                                             

Five‐Year Graduation Rate: Additional Information

• How would high school grades have changed in 2012 if special diploma recipients were non‐graduates in the five‐year rates?

– 12 schools would have lowered grades: 3 A’s to B’s, and 9 B’s to C’s