Making Progress With Growth Models in Education: Utility for School Improvement

• In Event: Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: School Effectiveness and School Improvement SIG 105 Poster Session

Abstract

There has been increasing demand for growth models in educational accountability in the United States. In a collaborative effort between an educational statistician and a professor preparing future principals to lead data-informed decisions, this paper begins with a constructive critique of growth models to clarify realistic expectations for educational decision-making. Drawing a distinction between universal growth models and progress models, the authors argue that progress models better match educational accountability goals, recommend adaptations of existing statistical methodologies, and introduce additional statistical methodologies to provide alternative approaches that improve progress modeling’s utility for building administrators and classroom teachers. An understanding of both progress models and growth models is necessary for leaders to engage stakeholders in continuous school improvement.

Authors

• Jennifer Koran, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

• Cameron Carlson, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale