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Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, February 17, 2015
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services with Education Analytics to Explore the Statistical Relationship Between Tests’ Psychometric Properties and Value Added Models’ Diagnostic Characteristics (Information and Technology Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This agreement is needed to address the refinement of the value added measures system.  Since the 2010-2011 school year, the district has worked with the University of Wisconsin’s Value-Added Research Center (VARC), under the direction of Dr. Rob Meyer, to calculate value-added scores as part of our evaluation system. To engage in ongoing analysis of evaluation data, we are contracting with Education Analytics, also under the direction of Dr. Meyer, to perform additional analyses.

The attached contract and statement of work identifies broad areas that will be investigated. Education Analytics will investigate pretest and posttests developed by the district that are used in Value Added Models (VAMs). They will help us understand whether teacher value-added estimates can be improved, and they will help us to explore new approaches to improve the precision in estimating teacher value-added scores.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
All Strategic Objectives
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
The maximum cost of the contract is $140,000 to be funded through the Teacher Incentive Fund grant.
EVALUATION
Project deliverables will be reviewed by the Director of Assessment and Performance Management and from personnel in the Assessment and Accountability Office.
SUBMITTED BY:  Tracy Schatzberg, Director, Assessment and Performance Management
Anna L. Brown, Ed.D.   Gretchen Saunders
Chief Information & Technology Officer
(813) 272-4600
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    A 6.17
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20150217_684 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 6.17