Why education researchers want to focus on academic growth, instead of just achievement

[Sherman A1]

In a new report, education researchers are highlighting schools that have seen an impressive rate of academic improvement, despite having a high concentration of students from low-income backgrounds.

The report lists schools that are “beating the odds” by showing high growth in math and English skills, according to St. Louis University’s Policy Research in Missouri Education Center.

This is part of a broader push to focus on student progress, which the researchers say is an important measure of how effective a school is. The schools on the list are often overlooked when considering more traditional achievement marks, said Evan Rhinesmith, executive director of the PRiME center.

“Growth is such an important metric that I don't think we talk about enough here in Missouri with our schools,” Rhinesmith said.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/education/2021-12-06/why-education-researchers-want-to-focus-on-academic-growth-instead-of-just-achievement

[Claire Oh Nette]

1. Educators have always measured student groowth

Politicians pushed testing, and they purposely compared apples to bananas.

This year's 4th graders are last year's 3rd graders.

Comparing this year's 4th graders to last year's 4th graders through their test scores is designed NOT to show growth. We knew testing showed growth, but we never got neat, tidy bar charts showing how the 4th graders of last year did as 5th graders this year.

Every teacher everywhere is saying, "Well, Duh."