Whitman Elementary - Tulsa Public Schools

Additional Background on Value-Added Analysis at Tulsa Public Schools
In October of 2011, the District rolled out school-level and teacher-level value-added reports
for the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 school years. Your principals provided your sites with
initial training on the topic. We are providing you with this open lab training in response to your
feedback.
Value-added analysis is a statistical, quantitative “student growth” measure that isolates the
impact our schools and teachers have on student achievement from year to year. Value-added
analysis is different from traditional student achievement measures because it measures
student growth over time and controls for factors that are beyond educators’ control. In
particular, TPS’ value-added approach takes into account prior achievement scores,
attendance history, mobility, English Language Learner status, special education status, low
income status, grade level, grade retention, gender, and race/ethnicity.
Value-added data is just ONE component of the overall Teacher Leader Effectiveness initiative
that is focused on making sure we have a great teacher in every classroom, a great leader in
every building, and a great employee in every position. It allows us to identify what practices
are accelerating learning and which need improvement.
At this time, the data collected will be used only for informational purposes to analyze and
improve classroom instruction and is not being used as a component of a teacher’s evaluation.
Beginning with the 2013–2014 school year, however, Oklahoma schools must comply with the
requirements of Oklahoma Senate Bill 2033 that mandate the use of this student growth data
as one component of evaluating teachers’ effectiveness.
Questions about Value Added?
• Any questions regarding value added may now be sent to the following email
address: valueadded@tulsaschools.org.
• Updated FAQs will be available in the next few days! We have added to and updated
them extensively in response to your feedback and questions. The updated FAQs
will be available at http://valueadded.tulsaschools.org.
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