Future Ready PA Index - Review of Indicators

The Future Ready PA Index uses four different approaches in scoring and depicting student progress and performance. The four approaches are as follows:

1. 2033 Goal and Targets (Achievement, English Learner Progress, and Graduation Rate)
   
   ESSA requires states to set long-term goals for certain indicators. Pennsylvania has aligned federal accountability goals to 2033, resulting in 16 interim targets for the intervening years. The following process is used to establish the 2033 goals and set yearly interim targets:
   
   Step 1: Set the Statewide 2033 Goal – Pennsylvania’s goal for each designated indicator is to reduce, by half, the statewide percentage of students not meeting the target (proficiency, language attainment, or graduation) by the end of the 2032-33 school year.
   Step 2: Establish Statewide Interim Targets – Statewide interim targets reflect the annual progress required to meet the Statewide 2033 Goal.
   Step 3: Assign Individual School Targets – Using the same methodology for Statewide goals, every public school will be assigned individual annual improvement targets based on: 1) the State’s 2033 All-Student Goal; 2) school-level baseline data, both all-student and by student group; and 3) the 16 years between baseline and 2033.
   
   For indictors using the 2033 goal and targets approach, school performance will be depicted using one of three color-coded ranges:
   

• BLUE = Meets or Exceeds All-Student Statewide 2033 Goal
• GREEN = Meets Statewide Interim or School Target
• RED = Does not meet either the Statewide Interim or the School Target

2. Academic Growth Standard (Academic Growth)
   
   The PVAAS Academic Growth Score presents the school’s impact on the year-to-year change in academic performance of groups of students in state-assessed content areas:
   
   
   • English Language Arts: PSSA English Language Arts and Keystone Literature
   • Math: PSSA Math and Keystone Algebra I
   • Science: PSSA Science and Keystone Biology
   
   PVAAS Academic Growth Scores will be depicted as follows: 

• BLUE = Exceeds the standard demonstrating growth 
• GREEN = Meets the standard demonstrating growth
• RED = Does not meet the standard demonstrating growth

3. Performance Standards (Regular Attendance and Career Standards Benchmark. Beginning n 2018-19, Industry Based Learning and Rigorous Courses of Study)
   
   Performance standards are norm-referenced presentations of school performance. Using one year of data as a baseline, cut scores were set at the 75th and 25th percentiles. Performance at or above the 25th percentile cut score satisfies the minimal performance standard.
   
   For indicators using the performance standard approach, school performance will be depicted as follows:
   

• BLUE = Exceeds the Performance Standard
• GREEN = Meets the Performance Standard
• RED = Does not meet the Performance Standard

4. Informational (Percent Advanced on State Assessments, Industry Based Learning, Advanced on Industry Competency Assessment, Rigorous Courses of Study, Postsecondary Transitions to School, Military or Work, and Early Indicators of Success)
   
   Informational indicators will be reported as a percentage of students who attain the target (e.g., course enrollment, advanced level of achievement), divided by the total number of students in the cohort or group. State averages will also be presented for Advanced on State Assessments, Advanced on Industry Competency Assessment, and Postsecondary Transitions to School, Military, or Work.
   
   Future Ready PA Index Indicators Summary Chart:

For more specific information on each of the Future Ready PA Indicators, visit PDE’s Future Ready PA Index website.

Questions or comments on the Future Ready PA Index can be sent to ra-edfuturereadypa@pa.gov.