NEW A-F School Accountability Plan
After a two year hiatus allowing for a transition to higher academic standards and a new assessment, the State Board of Education adopted a new A-F School Accountability plan effective for the 2016-2017 school year. The new plan adopted by the Board complies with the requirements of A.R.S. §15-241 and the accountability provisions of ESSA, while recognizing the opportunity to measure the quality of a school and its effectiveness across a broader range of measures than in the past.
The K-8 plan provides for multiple indicators weighted as follows: proficiency at 30%, growth at 50%, English Language Learners’ growth and proficiency at 10% and acceleration/readiness at 10%. The 9-12 plan provides for multiple indicators weighted as follows: proficiency at 30%, growth at 20%, English Language Learners’ growth and proficiency at 10%, graduation rate at 20% and college and career readiness at 20%. These indicators also include multiple measures of student performance. The attached tables detail the indicators and measures.
To aid in the effort, the State Board of Education appointed an ad hoc committee, consisting of 13 members from a wide range of stakeholders, including Board members, superintendents, teachers, parents, educational policy advocates, a charter school representative, and a representative from the Governor’s office. In connection with its recommendations made to the Board, the committee identified the following purposes in adopting an A-F School Accountability Plan 1) fairness and equity; 2) student‐level focus; 3) transparency, ease of understanding, and ease of communication; and 4) incentives to action.
The Accountability Advisory Group (AAG), facilitated by the Arizona Department of Education, also provided technical assistance to the committee and recommendations. The AAG consisted of assessment, accountability and data administrators from a variety of LEAs, charter schools and the Arizona Charter Schools Association. In addition, the State Board of Education facilitated 17 public hearings across the state and collected nearly 1700 survey responses from the public.
In adopting the new A-F School Accountability plan effective for the 2016-2017 school year, the State Board of Education indicated that it will engage in a timely review of the impacts of the adopted plan.
