Principals Put EVAAS to Work for Students
January 18, 2011 - Wake County educators are using the Education Value Added Assessment System, EVAAS, to help make data driven decisions for students and student instruction.| EVAAS Resource Guide - NC Department of Public Instruction |
Listen to Principal Nancy Allen of East Wake Middle School discuss using EVAAS This is a 24 minute mp3 file |
Listen to Principal Anthony Muttillo of West Millbrook Middle School discuss using EVAAS This is a 11.5 minute mp3 file |
The SAS software system has been made available by the NC Department of Public Instruction for NC school districts. All WCPSS principals were trained in the use of EVAAS this fall and the tool was used in placing middle school students in math classes for this school year.
“We have used it to project who might be successful in higher level math courses,” said Anthony Muttillo, principal at West Millbrook Middle School. “We are trying to challenge as many students as appropriate to put them in rigorous math classes. EVAAS takes a history of assessments and projects the probability that a student would be successful in a particular future course or on a particular EOG test.”
Using EVAAS as a data analysis tool, the software helps educators see the effectiveness of a student’s schooling experience. By looking at colorful, easy-to-understand charts and graphs accessed over the internet, users can produce reports that predict student success, show the effects of schooling at particular schools, or reveal patterns in the performance of student subgroups.
At East Wake Middle School, Principal Nancy Allen says she’s used EVAAS data to encourage students in algebra class.
“I looked at those students and some of them are not used to being in advanced classes,” said Allen. “I just told them ‘You know you’re projected to make a Level III in Algebra I. So I don’t hope you’re going to pass it. I don’t wish you’re going to pass it. I expect it.’”
Schools want to challenge students to take more rigorous courses. By taking demanding courses in middle school, students will then be better prepared for honors and Advanced Placement courses in high school.
“It’s really made the students feel good about themselves,” said Allen. “When I tell them ‘You all have the expectation that you are going to college.’ that means a lot to them. It has really created a different environment here.”
EVAAS data are based strictly on state End-of-Grade and End-of-Course testing. The system doesn’t look at the ongoing classroom assessments teachers use to determine if students are learning objectives in a current course.
Another EVAAS report looks at teacher effectiveness data. Principal Muttillo says these reports open the door for conversations with teachers.
“It’s an easy way to see how a teacher’s group of students scored,” said Muttillo. “Did these scores reflect growth or not? Its helps them see that picture. It can be a sense of pride in that teachers see their students scoring better than other students in the district or state. That’s a good thing. Teachers need to be acknowledged and validated for that.”
Allen says the teacher reports can help teachers see their individual professional development needs.
“Many teachers appreciate it so much that they can see what their history is and that gives them that information to professionally improve,” said Allen. “We have over the years begun to peel that onion and begin to sit down and say, ‘Here’s my data. And your data looks so much better. Tell me what you do.’ And that to me is the essence of what we are supposed to be as educators. We can help each other.”
Principal Muttillo says EVAAS is a helpful tool. “I don’t think we should look at EVAAS as someone’s fate is written in stone, but it gives us a good probability of success,” said Muttillo. “We can change the outcome for the positive, or we can use it to make educated decisions. When we use it to make math placements, for example, we’re using that EVAAS probability in conjunction with all the other factors we know about a student and making the best possible decision. “
Principal Allen says it’s a powerful tool that sits on her desktop. “It’s a wonderful tool,” said Allen. “With just a click of a mouse and I can find out all kinds of information about my school. That’s how I’ve got to make the decisions about where to take my school. It helps us with our school improvement plan and getting us where we need to be.”
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