The Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services is working with a bunch of acronym groups — NYSSBA (New York State School Boards Association),  NYSCOSS (New York State Council of School Superintendents) and SAANYS (School Aministrators Association of New York State) — to talk about the “value-added analysis growth process” and how it can help schools improve their students’ academic performance.

About 250 “educational leaders” from across the state will get together May 28 in Albany to learn about this.

And what, pray tell, is “value-added analysis”?

I’m glad you asked:

Achievement has typically been measured by how a student performs on state tests which is a measurement at a single point in time. Progress is measured by how much “gain” or “growth” a student makes over time. Value-added growth metrics measure students’ academic achievement and progress and the data provides school districts with a clearer more comprehensive picture of their impact on student academic performance. Value added gives districts a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs, methods, and materials used to deliver instruction so they can make better-informed, data-driven decisions about where to focus resources to help students make greater progress and perform at higher levels.