South Dakota applies to be "growth model" pilot

South Dakota is one of 20 states to apply to test a growth-based accountability model under No Child Left Behind (NCLB). In November of 2005, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced that her department would approve no more than 10 growth model pilots in 2005-06.

The South Dakota Department of Education submitted its application in February. Final recommendations of the review committee, which consists of national experts, are due to Spellings in May.

“After discussing the issue internally and getting feedback from educators in the field, we decided to make the application,” said Dr. Rick Melmer, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Education. “This model should give schools credit for improvement over time.”

Under the proposed growth model, South Dakota schools that don’t make adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the existing model would have another opportunity to make AYP via the growth model. AYP based on the growth model would be determined separately for reading and math.

The state’s growth model would look at individual gains made by students scoring below the “proficient” level. A mean gain score would be computed. The student group, school or district grade span would be said to make AYP if the mean gain from the previous year to the current year puts the group on track to meeting, or exceeding, proficiency in four years.

If chosen as a pilot site, South Dakota’s growth-based accountability model would be implemented in the 2006-07 school year. School districts should not have to provide any additional information to the state under this model. All growth model calculations would be run by the Department of Education.

When the status of the state’s application is announced, the department will forward that information to schools.