Is it possible to show progress with all groups of students — special ed, gifted and low-performing?
Yes. If tests have enough “stretch” to measure the growth of both low-achieving and high-achieving students, it is possible to measure all groups of student’s progress. The value-added methodology used is sensitive to individual student’s achievement levels. It measures growth from the end of one year to the end of the next year, regardless of whether a student performs below or above grade level. People may disagree with the amount of progress a student or groups of students should make, but most people agree that an educator’s role is to take students from where they start and add value to their educational experiences.
