Pub. 7 2017-2018 Issue 1

18 U nder ESSA, the accountability system for Utah will merge state and federal accountability into one accountability system to measure school performance beginning in 2017-2018. The new system adds metrics for growth among a school’s lowest performing students and those learning English. It will also award high schools for students who success- fully complete advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment, International Baccalaureate, or Career and Technical Education pathways. Under the new system, schools will be assigned a letter grade based on individual merit, not how they compare to other schools in the state. The system is more equitable with respect to schools with large low-income student populations. Analyses of the new system indicate there will be a reduc- tion in the effect of a school’s socioeconomic demographics on the school’s grade. State Accountability Standards BY ANN MICHELLE NEAL – ACCOUNTABILITY SPECIALIST, WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND ASSESSMENT (WIDA), STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Under the new system, schools will be assigned a letter grade based on individual merit, not how they compare to other schools in the state. The system is more equitable with respect to schools with large low-income student populations.