Methodology, Research & Statewide Data

SAS^® EVAAS^® for K-12 provides value-added modeling and projection analyses for the assessment of academic growth and to ensure students are on the path to proficiency and beyond. This includes the PVAAS web-based reporting to Pennsylvania’s public school districts, charter schools, cyber charter schools, and full-time Career and Technology Centers.

The methodology used in Pennsylvania for value-added assessment is based on the SAS^® EVAAS^®methodology, called Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS). More simple models for value-added assessment (unlike SAS^® EVAAS^®) may yield results that may be confounded by measurement error and exclude students who have missing data in their assessment history. Pennsylvania’s implementation of EVAAS is called the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS). The EVAAS methodology has been published since 1998 and has been nationally peer reviewed. Following a pilot from 2002-2005, PVAAS has been implemented statewide in Pennsylvania since 2006. 

In addition to Pennsylvania, SAS^® EVAAS^® for K-12 is involved in the statewide implementation of district, school, and/or teacher-specific reporting in Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Michigan, South Carolina, and North Carolina. SAS^® EVAAS^® for K-12 also provides statewide analysis of data in Arkansas and Texas as well as analysis for several regional and district implementations across the United States, including the District of Columbia Public Schools. SAS^® EVAAS^® for K-12 has been involved with research on the effectiveness of teachers as measured by value-added analyses for over 20 years.

Methodology

These resources offer information on how growth is measured and student-level projections are calculated, including full methodology details.

• PVAAS Methodologies: Measuring Growth & Projecting Achievement (PDF)
• Statistical Models and Business Rules of PVAAS Analyses (PDF)
• Foundations of PVAAS Growth Reporting Video (YouTube)
• Foundations of PVAAS Student Projections Video (YouTube)

• Changes in PA’s Assessment System: Is there an impact on PVAAS? (PDF)
• High Achievement & High Growth: Can It Be Done? (PDF)
• Including Retesters’ Keystone Scores in District & School Growth Calculations (PDF)
• Making Sense of NCEs and Standard Errors (PDF)
• Misconceptions about PVAAS Reporting for Pennsylvania (PDF)
• What Educators Should Know about PVAAS Student Probabilities (PDF)
  

These resources offer details of how students are placed into achievement groups on the PVAAS Quintile Diagnostic and Performance Diagnostic reports.

• Diagnostic Reports for PSSA Math and ELA (PDF)
• Diagnostic Reports for Keystone Content Areas (PDF)
  

Research

These resources offer information related to value-added research.

• Current Knowledge about Value-Added Modeling (PDF)
• Key Research Findings (PDF)

Statewide Data

These resources illustrate state-wide achievement and growth data of Pennsylvania’s schools in tested subjects and grades.

• SY2017-2018 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2016-2017 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2015-2016 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2014-2015 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2013-2014 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2012-2013 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2011-2012 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2010-2011 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
• SY2009-2010 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots, Grades 4-8 (PDF)
• SY2009-2010 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots, Grade 11 (PDF)
• SY2008-2009 PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots (PDF)
  

Support and Assistance

For answers to questions regarding statewide support or professional learning, please contact the PVAAS Statewide Team via phone: 717-606-1911 or email: pdepvaas@iu13.org.