Passing Grades Aren’t Enough; School Wants to See Improvement

The Urbandale school board is taking steps to measure students’ improvement from year to year  in core subjects such as reading, math and science.

The board approved growth-based achievement goals for the 2013-2014 school year at a meeting last week, implementing a change formulated after studying two years’ worth of achievement data, the Des Moines Register reported.

Iowa school districts have been using goals assessment in math, reading and science since the 2011-2012 school year. Under that system, a student might score lower from one year to the next on standardized tests, yet remain above the proficiency level.

The school district’s move to growth-based goals is an effort to correct that, said Lou Ann McClain, the district’s curriculum and achievement director. The changes were made at the encouragement of the district’s school improvement advisory committee.

The district expects to see an increase in the number of students reaching their goals. They’ll be measured by whether they achieved a high, intermediate or low proficiency level. New growth goals will be established annually.