You can now read the A to F recommendations yourself

State Superintendent Glenda Ritz this afternoon released the final report and recommendations of an accountability panel appointed by Gov. Mike Pence, legislative leaders and herself. Ritz co-chaired the panel. Read our report here on their recommendations, which were approved Monday.

The panel’s report and recommendations can be found here. To read Ritz’s statement and summary of tie panel’s report, follow the jump:

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz and Dr. Steven Yager of Southwest Allen County Schools Release Accountability Panel Report Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz and Dr. Steven Yager of Southwest Allen County Schools released the report of the Accountability Systems Review Panel today.  Superintendent Ritz and Dr. Yager served as co-chairs of the panel.  The Panel consisted of appointments made by Superintendent Ritz, Governor Pence, Speaker Bosma and President Pro Tempore David Long.  The Panel approved the report by a vote on 16-1 on Monday evening.  The report recommends changing Indiana’s current accountability model to focus on growth in individual student learning.  The Panel developed the new A-F school accountability model adhering to the following criteria:

  • Growth for all students is highly valued and schools will be rewarded for individual student growth. 
  •  Schools deserve a model that is clear, understandable, fair, and transparent.  Schools will be able to understand the statistical calculations and be able to use the data to inform instruction.
  • Multiple data points of English/language arts, math, reading, college and career ready indicators, and graduation rates will inform both growth and performance accountability.
  • The model will allow for flexibility for changes in assessment, allow for all configurations of school grade level spans, and will align with federal Title I category requirements. 

“I am very proud of the work this panel has done over the last two months,” said Ritz.  “I want to thank the members of the panel, in particular Dr. Yager, for their hard work and dedication in creating a system in a fair, open, and transparent manner.  “Because of this group’s work, for the first time, we have moved a major step closer to a system that measures our schools based on individual student learning.  This common-sense measurement will give parents, educators and communities a better understanding of how local schools are performing.” Dr. Yager added, “I want to thank Superintendent Ritz and all the members of this panel for their hard work and dedication to strengthening accountability for Hoosier schools.  This group was faced with a large task two months ago, but through open and bi-partisan collaboration I believe we produced a system that will measure schools in a clear and straightforward manner.  Finally, I also want to thank the staffs of the Department of Education and Legislative Services Agency for their help and professionalism throughout this process.  It was encouraging to see how good government can operate from the inside.”  The full text of the report can be found here. The report now moves to the State Board of Education for approval.