INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) today released the 2017-2018 School Accountability Grades. Roughly 22 percent of schools improved one or more letter grades, with nearly 9 percent improving their letter grade to an A. Overall, close to 64 percent of schools received an A or B.
“Our current accountability grades are an indication of the great education Indiana students are receiving,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction.“Our work is paying off and as a Department we will continue to partner with dedicated stakeholders to ensure every school and every student is successful.”
In 1999, the General Assembly passed Public Law 221-199 which created a performance-based accountability system. In response to this legislation, the State Board of Education (SBOE), IDOE, and the Education Roundtable collaborated over the next two years to establish the administrative rules outlining the State’s accountability system. These rules were finalized and in place by the end of 2001. In 2015, SBOE established new metrics for Indiana’s student-centered accountability system. Current State metrics went into effect beginning with the assessment of the 2015-2016 school year.
Due to differences between federal and state accountability equations and standards, IDOE also released federal accountability grades for the 2017-2018 school year. Roughly 67 percent of public schools received the same letter grade for both state and federal accountability systems, with 31 percent of schools receiving a higher letter grade on the state accountability system. Differences in performance metrics between the two systems were the main factor for discrepancies for 33 percent of school letter grades.
For 2017-2018 School Accountability Grades, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/accountability/find-school-and-corporation-data-reports. To view more information on Indiana’s student-centered accountability system, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/accountability/indiana-student-centered-accountability.
