How are schools recognized and rewarded under the ABCs Accountability Program?
Since 1996, schools have been rewarded each year by the state based on (1) the percent of tests on which students score at Achievement Level III or IV and (2) how much growth individual students show on these tests from one year to the next. The state sets standards for both of these measurements that are used to help determine the overall performance of the schools in terms of student achievement. If the students in a school show “expected” or “high” levels of growth on state tests from year to year, the school may be given an award by the state recognizing their performance, and teachers and teacher assistants may get a bonus of up to $1,500 each. Depending on how much growth students demonstrate, and on how many students score in Achievement Level III or IV, schools are given labels.
