W. Va. Code R. § 126-13-5

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section 126-13-5 - West Virginia Accountability System (WVAS)

5.1. The WVAS identifies the WVBE expectations for student performance and defines the measurement system by which schools are accredited and school systems are approved. It is founded on the expectation that schools will exhibit sustained improvement over time and work toward rigorous but realistic goals. The WVAS is based on the following guiding principles:

5.1.a. Communicating rigorous expectations for students and schools;

5.1.b. Creating a system of support and recognition for all schools;

5.1.c. Valuing both performance and growth; and

5.1.d. Communicating student performance clearly through a means understood by all.

5.2. WVAS Overview.

5.2.a. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the WVAS will assign all schools a rating of A-F, based on their overall performance score across multiple measures that include both student proficiency, student growth, and student success indicators. The points available to schools differ by programmatic level.

5.2.a.1. Elementary Schools. Elementary schools can earn up to 1200 points. Scores are comprised of proficiency rates, observed growth, adequate growth, the accelerated improvement of the lowest performing 25% of students in a school, students proficient in reading at 3^rd grade, at-risk subgroup reduction, and attendance.

5.2.a.2. Middle Schools. Middle schools can earn up to 1200 points. Scores are comprised of proficiency rates, observed growth, adequate growth, the accelerated improvement of the lowest performing 25% of students in a school, students proficient in math at 8^th grade, at-risk subgroup reduction, and attendance.

5.2.a.3. High Schools. High schools can earn up to 1500 points. Scores are comprised of proficiency rates, observed growth, adequate growth, the accelerated improvement of the lowest performing 25% of students in a school, college ready indicators, career ready indicators, attendance, at-risk sub-group reduction and 4-year graduation rates.

5.2.b.. Measures The WVAS A-F system includes the following components:

5.2.b.1. Proficiency Rates. The proficiency rate component of the WVAS includes proficiency for all students in grades 3-11 based on the state summative general and alternate assessments in mathematics and English/language arts. Elementary and middle schools may earn up to 175 points in mathematics and up to 175 points in English/language arts depending on student performance. High schools may earn up to 250points in mathematics and up to 250points in English/language arts depending on student performance.

5.2.b.2. Observed Growth. The observed growth component of the WVAS includes aggregate student growth for all students based on the assessments for which growth data are available. Observed growth measures the actual growth of each student. Schools at all levels may earn up to 100 points in mathematics and up to 100 points in English/language arts depending on student growth.

5.2.b.3. Adequate Growth. The adequate growth component of the WVAS includes aggregate student growth for all students based on the assessments for which adequate growth data are available. Adequate growth determines whether observed growth is enough for students to reach grade-level expectations, or growth to standard. Schools may earn up to 100 points in mathematics and up to 100 points in English/language arts depending on student growth to standard.

5.2.b.4. Accelerated Improvement of the Lowest 25%.Schools may earn up to 100 points in mathematics and up to 100 points in English/language arts depending on the improved performance rates of the lowest performing 25% of students in a school.

5.2.b.5. Graduation Rates. For high schools, the graduation rate component of the WVAS is the 4-year cohort graduation rate. Schools may earn up to 150 points for their 4-year cohort graduation rate.

5.2.b.6. College and Career Ready Indicators. For high schools, college and career ready indicators measure the percentage of 12th grade students attempting and completing one or more college readiness or credit bearing courses wherein students achieve college ready benchmarks or complete Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrations during high school as defined in the guidance. High schools may earn up to 150 points for the combined college and career ready indicators metric.

5.2.b.7. Students Proficient in 3^rd Grade Reading Rate. Students proficient in 3rd grade reading rate is used to indicate the extent to which elementary schools maximize the percentage of grade three students scoring at or above standard for reading. Elementary schools may earn up to 50 points for increasing the percentage of students scoring at or above standard in 3rd grade reading.

5.2.b.8. Students Proficient in 8^th Grade Mathematics Rate. Students proficient in 8th grade mathematics rate is used to indicate the extent to which middle schools maximize the percentage of grade eight students scoring at or above standard for math concepts and procedures. Middle schools may earn up to 50 points for increasing the percentage of students scoring at or above standard in 8th grade math.

5.2.b.9. At-Risk Subgroup Reduction. At-risk subgroup reduction demonstrates the extent to which schools minimize the percentage of students identified as at risk for dropping out of school on the basis of academic, behavior, and attendance risk indicators. Elementary and Middle Schools may earn up to 100 points for at-risk reduction. High Schools may earn up to 50 points for at-risk reduction.

5.2.b.10. Attendance. Attendance is one measure of a student's availability to receive instruction and participate in the educational process. Attendance will be calculated pursuant to the provisions of W. Va. 126CSR81, WVBE Policy 4110: Attendance, hereinafter Policy 4110. Elementary and Middle Schools may earn up to 100 points for attendance. High Schools may earn up to 50 points for attendance.

5.2.c. Inclusion Requirements. In order to ensure that the WVAS makes a fair, reliable, and valid assessment of schools in West Virginia, various system requirements are in place to include students in calculations for school grades.

5.2.c.1. Minimum Cell Size. A subgroup is included in the WVAS if there are at least 10 students across all grades.

5.2.c.2. Full Academic Year. Students who are enrolled in a school for at least 135 days are considered to be present for a full academic year, hereinafter FAY. Only FAY students are included in accountability calculations.

5.2.c.3. School Programmatic Levels. Elementary, middle, or high school classification is determined by the highest grade level of accountability (i.e., 4, 8, or 12) in a school, regardless of grade configuration. Schools terminating below grade 4 are considered elementary schools.

5.2.c.4. Participation Rate. Participation rates ensure that all students are well represented when calculating a school's grade letter designation. Schools not meeting established participation rates will be subject to grade modification. Where ESSA mandates specific methodologies for calculating participation rates, those mandates will be incorporated into the guidance.

5.2.d. School Performance Levels. Through the WVAS, schools earn a performance designation ranging from A to F. The WVBE will establish cut scores for the school grade designations and will review annually and revise scores as necessary.

5.2.d.1.A Schools. Schools with distinctive student performance on the multiple measures as determined by WVAS metrics.

5.2.d.2.B Schools. Schools with commendable student performance on the multiple measures as determined by WVAS metrics.

5.2.d.3.C Schools. Schools with acceptable student performance on the multiple measures as determined by WVAS metrics.

5.2.d.4.D Schools. Schools with unacceptable student performance on the multiple measures as determined by WVAS metrics.

5.2.d.5.F Schools. Schools with lowest student performance on the multiple measures as determined by WVAS metrics.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-13-5