1. ESEA FLEXIBILITY WAIVER
Principle 2 – Accountability System
Alaska’s Proposal
September 6, 2012
Alaska Department of Education & Early Development

2. Principle 2 - Accountability & Support
Requirements for waiver:
Accountability system for all schools
Provide a state developed differentiated accountability system for all schools to improve student achievement and school performance, close achievement gaps, and increase the quality of instruction for all students
AMO targets
Set ambitious but achievable AMO targets for the percent of students proficient in English/Language Arts and Math; report for all students and all NCLB subgroups annually
Incentives and supports for all Title I schools
Build state, district, and school capacity to improve student learning in all schools

3. Alaska School Performance Index
ASPI is rating system for overall performance for all schools
Includes college and career ready indicators, with each indicator weighted in the overall score
Based on 100 point scale
Indicators for grades K-8 and grades 9-12
Schools with students that cross both grade spans (including K-12) have indicators for each grade span, weighted by % of students in school in each grade span
School receives rating from 1-star to 5-stars (highest)

4. Academic Achievement Indicator
Based on all students group
Average of % proficient on three tests
Reading
Writing
Math
Weighted 35% for grades K-8, 20% for grades 9-12
All students tested are included, not just “full academic year” students

5. Progress Indicator
Growth and proficiency index (capped at 100 points earned)
All students group and 4 primary subgroups:
AK Native/Am Indian
Economically disadvantaged
Students with disabilities
English learners (LEP students)
Subgroups included if 5 or more students test in that subgroup
Each subgroup included weighted 10% of progress score; all students group receiving remaining % of weighting
Progress indicator weighted at 35% for all grades

6. % of Student Population
Primary Subgroups
Subgroups included based on lowest performing statewide and greatest percent of students included
Statewide Data
% Prof/Adv
Group
% of Student Population
Reading
Writing
Math
All students
100.0%
80.1
74.2
68.6
African American
3.7%
74.1
67.4
54.4
Alaska Native /American Indian
22.8%
59.0
51.3
48.6
Asian/Pacific Islander
8.8%
76.3
73.2
67.9
Caucasian
50.9%
90.1
84.7
78.7
Hispanic
6.4%
80.3
75.0
66.3
Multi-Ethnic
7.5%
82.4
76.6
70.2
Low Income
46.9%
68.9
62.0
56.4
Students with Disabilities
13.1%
44.0
38.2
32.2
LEP students
10.2%
31.4
27.2
26.7

7. Progress Indicator Example School with 3 subgroups
G&P Index Score
Weighting
Component of Progress Score
All students
86.11
70%
60.28
Econ Disadvantaged
83.66
10%
8.37
SWDs
73.17
7.32
LEP
87.62
8.76
School Progress Score --
100%
84.73

8. Attendance Rate Weighted at 25% for grades K-8, 10% for grades 9-12
Incentive for attendance >= 90
Attendance rate
Points
96% - 100%
100
93% - 95% 95
90% - 92% 80
85% - 89% 50
70% - 85% 25
Below 70%

9. Graduation Rate
Use higher of 4-year or 5-year cohort rate (required graduation rate formula)
4 year rate
5 year rate
Points
98-100
100
90-97
93-97 95
85-89
89-92 90
80-84
85-88 70
70-79 50
60-69 25
50-59 10
Below 50
Below 60

10. Graduation Rate for Small Schools
For schools that have 25 or fewer students in the cohort (the denominator of the fraction used to compute the graduation rate), the school will receive points on the graduation indicator based on aggregated graduation rate data for up to three consecutive years, including the current year, so that the aggregated cohort (denominator of the fraction) is larger than 25. For schools that have insufficient data to make a graduation rate determination with a cohort of at least 25 students over three consecutive years, and the cohort for the current year is two or fewer, the school will receive 50 points on the graduation rate indicator if the graduation rate for four consecutive years, including the current year, demonstrates progress of at least 3%.

11. College & Career Ready Indicator
Points earned for each certificate/score level as shown – ACT & SAT scores levels align with APS scholarship levels
# students tested (current 12th graders tested in either 11th and/or 12th grades) in any WorkKeys, ACT, or SAT assessment
% calculated based on total number of points earned divided by number of students tested
WorkKeys Certificate
ACT Score
SAT Score
Points
Gold or Platinum 25
1680
100
Silver 23
1560 95
Bronze 21
1450 80

12. Participation Rate SBAs weighted at 5% for all grades
WorkKeys weighted at 2% for 11th graders who take test
Participation Rate
Points
95-100
100
90-94 50
0-89

13. Indicators for Elementary/Middle Grades K-8
Category
Weighting in Overall Score
Academic Achievement - % of all students proficient or above (average of % proficient on reading, writing and math SBAs)
35%
School Progress – growth and proficiency index score for all students group and for each primary subgroup (AN/AI, economically disadvantaged, SWDs, and LEPs)
Attendance Rate (all students
25%
Participation Rate in SBAs (all students) 5%
Total
100%

14. Indicators for High School Grades 9-12
Category
Weighting in Overall Score
Academic Achievement - % of all students proficient or above (average of % proficient on reading, writing and math SBAs)
20%
School Progress – growth and proficiency index score for all students group and for each primary subgroup (AN/AI, economically disadvantaged, SWDs, and LEPs)
35%
Attendance Rate (all students
10%
Participation Rate in SBAs (all students) 5%
Graduation rate (cohort of all students)
WorkKeys certificate rate (11th graders) 8%
WorkKeys participation rate (11th graders) 2%
Total
100%

15. Sample ASPI Chart K-8 School
Anytown Elementary School # %
Students in grades K-8
502
100%
Students in grades 9-12 0%
Grades K-8
Category
Points Earned
Weight
Weighted points
Academic Achievement - % of all students proficient or above (average of % proficient on reading, writing and math SBAs)
63.5
35%
22.23
School Progress – growth and proficiency index score for all students group and for each primary subgroup (AN/AI, economically disadvantaged, SWDs, and ELs)
93.98
32.89
Attendance Rate (all students 85
25%
21.25
Participation Rate in SBAs (all students)
100 5%
5.00
Total
81.37
ASPI Overall Score
Star Rating
***

16. Sample ASPI Chart High School
Anytown High School # %
Students in grades K-8 0%
Students in grades 9-12
2211
100%
Grades 9-12
Category
Points earned
Weight
Weighted points
Academic Achievement - % of all students proficient or above (average of % proficient on reading, writing and math SBAs)
65.82
20%
13.16
School Progress – growth and proficiency index score for all students group and for each primary subgroup (AN/AI, economically disadvantaged, SWDs, & ELs)
86.38
35%
30.23
Attendance Rate (all students
50.00
10%
5.00
Participation Rate in SBAs (all students)
100.00 5%
Graduation rate (cohort of all students)
10.00
College & Career Readiness Indicator (12th graders scores on SAT, ACT, or WorkKeys)
73.53 8%
5.88
WorkKeys participation rate (11th graders) 2%
1.00
Total
70.28
ASPI Overall Score
Star Rating
***

17. Sample ASPI Chart K-12 grades
Anytown K-12 School # %
Students in grades K-8
132
77%
Students in grades 9-12 39
23%
Grades K-8
Category
Points Earned
Weight
Weighted points
Academic Achievement - % of all students proficient or above on SBAs
28.06
35%
9.82
School Progress – growth and proficiency index score for all students group and for each primary subgroup (AN/AI, ECD, SWD, & EL)
80.19
28.07
Attendance Rate (all students)
100
25%
25.00
Participation Rate in SBAs (all students) 5%
5.00
Total
100%
67.89
Grades 9-12
Points earned
10.42
20%
2.08
76.59
26.81
0.00
10%
100.00
Graduation rate (cohort of all students)
70.00
14.00
College & Career Readiness Indicator (12th graders scores on SAT, ACT, or WorkKeys)
24.00 8%
1.92
WorkKeys participation rate (11th graders) 2%
2.00
51.81
ASPI Overall Score (67.89*77% *23%)
64.22
Star Rating **

18. Summary of ASPI Scores & Ratings
Summary counts
# all schools
% of all schools
ASPI range
Rating
# EM
% EM
# HS
% HS
# K12
% K12
# Title I schools
% Title I in star rating
Highest range 58
11.5%
***** 47
81.0%
0.0% 11
19.0% 15
25.9%
Next Range
167
33.0%
****
117
70.1% 13
7.8% 37
22.2% 76
45.5%
Next range
179
35.4%
*** 53
29.6% 25
14.0%
101
56.4%
119
66.5%
Next Lowest 10% 51
10.1% ** 3
5.9% 2
3.9% 46
90.2% 43
84.3%
Lowest 10%
less than 55 *
29.4% 34
66.7% 33
64.7%
Total all schools
506
100.0%
222 55
229
286
56.5%
Key
Schools with only grades K-8 EM
Schools with only grades 9-12 HS
Schools with both EM & HS
K12

19. Comparison of Stars and AYP
# Schools in each category compared to AYP levels
AYP levels
Proposed ASPI Star Ratings 1 2 3 4 5
1 star 6 30
2 stars 7 29
3 stars 63 39 10 13 8 46
4 stars 81 18 17
5 stars 52

20. AMO Targets
Reduce by ½ the percentage of students (all students and each traditional NCLB subgroup) who are not proficient in equal increments within six years in: reading, writing, and mathematics
Set for state as a whole and for each individual school – school meets AMO target if either state target or school target is reached
Used for reporting progress on AMOs and for identification of schools not closing gaps for subgroups
Must use data as baseline year
If waiver is approved, will be used for tests

21. AMO Calculation Example
78.3
Baseline Year % Prof or Advanced
21.6
% Not proficient
10.8
Amount to reduce by 1/2 over 6 years
1.8
Equal increment
80.1
1st year target
81.9
2nd year target
83.7
3rd year target
85.5
4th year target
87.3
5th year target
89.1
6th year target

22. State AMO Targets AMO Targets Group Content Area % Prof/Adv 2011-2012
Annual Incre-ment
All students
Reading
80.1
1.7
81.8
83.4
85.1
86.7
88.4
90.1
Writing
74.2
2.2
76.4
78.5
80.7
82.8
85.0
87.1
Math
68.6
2.6
71.2
73.8
76.5
79.1
81.7
84.3
Economically Disadvantaged
68.9
71.5
74.1
76.7
79.3
81.9
84.5
62.0
3.2
65.2
68.3
74.7
77.8
81.0
56.4
3.6
60.0
63.7
67.3
70.9
74.6
78.2
Students with Disabilities
44.0
4.7
48.7
53.3
58.0
62.7
72.0
38.2
5.2
43.4
48.5
53.7
58.8
64.0
69.1
32.2
5.7
37.9
43.5
49.2
54.8
60.5
66.1
English Learners (EL or LEP)
31.4
37.1
42.8
48.6
54.3
65.7
27.2
6.1
33.3
39.3
45.4
51.5
57.5
63.6
26.7
32.8
38.9
45.0
51.1
57.2
63.4

23. State AMO Targets AMO Targets Group Content Area % Prof/Adv 2011-2012
Annual Incre-ment
African American
Reading
74.1
2.2
76.3
78.4
80.6
82.7
84.9
87.1
Writing
67.4
2.7
70.1
72.8
75.6
78.3
81.0
83.7
Math
54.4
3.8
58.2
62.0
65.8
69.6
73.4
77.2
Alaska Native /Am Indian
59.0
3.4
62.4
69.3
72.7
76.1
79.5
51.3
4.1
55.4
59.4
63.5
67.5
71.6
75.7
48.6
4.3
52.9
57.2
61.5
65.7
70.0
74.3
Asian/Pacific Islander
2.0
80.3
82.2
84.2
86.2
88.2
73.2
75.4
77.7
79.9
82.1
84.4
86.6
67.9
70.6
73.3
75.9
78.6
81.3
84.0
Caucasian
90.1
0.8
90.9
91.8
92.6
93.4
94.2
95.1
84.7
1.3
86.0
87.3
88.5
89.8
91.1
92.4
78.7
1.8
80.5
82.3
85.8
87.6
89.4
Hispanic
1.6
81.9
83.6
85.2
86.9
90.2
75.0
2.1
77.1
79.2
83.3
85.4
87.5
66.3
2.8
69.1
71.9
74.7
77.5
83.2
Multi-Ethnic
82.4
1.5
83.9
85.3
86.8
88.3
89.7
91.2
76.6
82.5
86.4
70.2
2.5
75.2
80.1
82.6
85.1

24. Incentives & Supports - All Schools
All schools and districts have support at universal level from State System of Support (SSOS)
State reviews schools in all star ratings
Schools with 3 to 5 stars with subgroup achievement gaps required to create plan to address specific areas – district responsibility to oversee school plans

25. Highest Performing Reward Schools
Reward schools - 2 categories
Highest-performing – in each category: EM, HS, and K-12
Rank schools in order of ASPI score from greatest to least
Find up to the top 10% based on the ASPI score that meet the following criteria:
Made AYP based on 2011 and 2012 tests. (Beginning in 2013, will need to meet AMO targets instead of AYP)
Graduation rate must be at least 85% average over the two most recent consecutive years for schools with 12th grade
Must be a 4-star or 5-star school

26. High Progress Reward Schools
High progress – in each category: EM, HS, and K-12
Rank schools in order of overall school growth & proficiency index
Find the top 10% based on the G&P index that meet the following criteria:
Growth & proficiency index for all students average over 3 consecutive years must be >= 95.0
Growth & proficiency index for each of the 4 primary subgroups (AN/AI, ECD, SWD, and EL) must be >=90.0 in the current year.
Graduation rate must be at least 85% average over the two most recent consecutive years for schools with 12th grade.

27. Recognition for Reward Schools
All reward schools
Announcement on EED website, through Information Exchange, and press releases
Letters/certificates from commissioner and/or governor
Possibly legislative proclamations, special logo to use, recognition at local events
Encouraged to serve as models or mentors for other schools

28. Title I Reward Schools
Title I schools with >= 35% poverty may apply for Title I Distinguished Schools program
Winning school in each category receives recognition at National Title I Conference as well as any appropriate state conferences or meetings
Supported financially to attend national conference (as resources allow to allow)

29. Lowest Performing Schools
State performs desk audit (review of data) of schools with 1- and 2-star ratings
ASPI score
Growth & proficiency index for subgroups
AMO targets
Graduation rate
State reviews performance of district through levels of schools in district

30. Consult with districts
EED SSOS team leadership consults with district superintendent and key staff
Review levels of implementation of six domains of Alaska’s Effective Schools Framework
Consideration of previous school progress, improvement initiatives, intervention, etc.
Based on consultation, EED determines level of support & interventions needed in 1- and 2-star schools and districts with 1- and 2-star schools

31. Title I Priority Schools
Lowest performing 5% of Title I schools
14 Title I schools selected from 1-star schools – based on lowest ASPI scores & factors including:
SBA proficiency rates in all-students group & 4 primary subgroups over 3 years
Growth & proficiency index scores averaged over 3 years
Graduation rates of 60% over three consecutive years
SIG status
Size & characteristics
SSOS desk audit and conversations with district
Number of other 1- and 2-star schools in the same district
Must implement, for at least 3 years, meaningful interventions aligned with turnaround principles
Turnaround principles will be aligned with the 6 domains of Alaska’s Effective Schools Framework

32. Turnaround Principles
Ensure strong leadership by replacing the principal or demonstrate principal effectiveness;
ensure effective teachers by reviewing quality of staff and retaining those determined to be effective and providing professional development;
Redesign school day, week or year to provide additional time for student learning and teacher collaboration;
ensure research-based and aligned instructional programs;
use student data to inform instruction;
establish positive school environment; and
provide mechanisms for family and community engagement

33. Consequences & Supports for Priority Schools
Use AK STEPP for comprehensive turnaround plan aligned with 6 domains of AK Effective Schools Framework
Intensive level of support/intervention from SSOS
On-site coach (1 week per month)
Participation in initiatives such as Leadership Academy, Curriculum Alignment Institutes, Principal and Teacher Mentoring
Funding through SIG 1003g funds, School Improvement 1003a, and 20% Title I allocation in lieu of SES/Choice

34. Exiting Priority Status
Requirements to exit:
Improve at least 6 points on ASPI index at the end of 3 years
Have G&P index of at least 90 for all students and each primary subgroup
If not meet exit criteria after 3 years:
Continue in priority status
Increased oversight & intervention by EED

35. Title I Focus Schools
10% of Title I schools with low performance or achievement gaps within the school or between the school and the state 28 schools
After the identification of the Title I priority schools, from the remaining list of Title I schools with a 1-star or 2-star rating, sort all schools from least to greatest ASPI score.
Include the remaining 1-star schools not selected as priority schools, and include as many 2-star schools in rank order from least to greatest ASPI score to determine remaining focus schools

36. Consequences & Supports
Focus Schools have targeted level of support from SSOS
Use of AK STEPP for plan of improvement for focusing on specific subgroups of concern and for specific indicators including curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development.
Make school improvement funds available from Title IA, 1003(a).
Require district to use up to 20% as a district set-aside from its Title I allocation to serve focus schools (in lieu of the set-aside required for SES and school choice).
Make content support available from SSOS content program managers.
Provide support for ELL or SWD student subgroups through additional resources and professional development through contracts with external partners for specific areas of need.

37. Exiting Focus Status
A focus school must implement interventions for a minimum of 2 years and until the school has met the exit criteria.
Requirements to exit:
Improve at least 5 points on the growth and proficiency index (based on the average of three consecutive years) in the all students group and in any specific subgroups in which the school was identified as a focus school.
Graduation rate must improve to greater than 60% (average of three consecutive most recent school years)

38. NCLB Provisions Waived
If Alaska’s proposal is approved, the following provisions of the current law will be waived:
Alaska will not report whether schools have made adequate yearly progress (AYP).
Alaska will not identify schools under the current labels of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.
Alaska will not identify districts for improvement or corrective action.
Alaska will no longer require the consequences in the current law for schools in improvement, corrective action or restructuring.
Alaska will no longer require schools to offer public school choice or supplemental educational services (SES) in schools identified for improvement. Districts may offer these options to parents if desired.

39. NCLB Provisions Waived
Alaska will no longer require districts to set-aside 20% of their Title I allocation to provide SES or transportation to schools of choice. These funds may instead be used, as needed, to provide support to schools identified as Title I priority or focus schools.
Alaska will no longer require the district to use 10% of its Title I allocation for professional development for a district in corrective action.

40. More Information
The complete ESEA Flexibility Waiver Proposal is posted on the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development website at:
Questions on Principle 2 may be addressed to:
Margaret MacKinnon,
Erik McCormick,
Paul Prussing,