Plans emerge to replace decile ranking system
By Kimberly Beltran
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
In what might be the next step in revising California’s system for evaluating student performance, the state board of education is scheduled to consider next week two options for replacing the existing decile ranking system.
Legislation approved last year requires the California State Board of Education in conjunction with the California Department of Education and advisory groups to develop an evaluation matrix that does not rely as much as test scores by including other indicators such as college and career readiness.
As part of that work, members of the Public Schools Accountability Act Advisory Committee are offering two new methods of comparing schools statewide: a numeric model and a descriptive model.
Schools now receive two decile ranks based on their API scores: One that shows how each one measures up to all other schools in the state and one relative to 100 other schools with similar pupil demographics.
Both of the proposed new systems would be grounded in four key components: absolute performance, educational challenges, growth over time and student group achievement.
The numeric model, would be similar to how the state’s Academic Performance Index is currently presented – with school, district and county level data expressed as a number.
The descriptive model would rely on a five star system – like a restaurant rating. The approach here would be to present the data in a format that is more familiar to parents and the public. For example, five stars can be used to create 10 rating options in a category by using half star increments, according to a staff report.
The proposal comes forward as only one piece in a highly complex puzzle of public policy as the state ushers in new
With the start of another school year, state schools chief Tom Torlakson and the California Legislature are making chronic absenteeism a special focus this month.