NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Guidelines for Performance Funding for Pennsylvania Schools
[29 Pa.B. 674] Incentive awards for schools that significantly improve in student achievement or effort started after the 1998 administration of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. The results of these tests were available at the conclusion of the 1997-98 school year, and the resultant incentive awards were made shortly thereafter. School incentive awards based on the School Performance Funding (SPF) Program were drawn from the $10.415 million in school performance funding appropriated in the 1997-98 budget. More than 3,200 public schools were eligible to receive funds based on their performance. Individual school performance was considered in two broad categories: achievement and effort. Nine hundred ninty-five schools received awards for meaningful improvement in their 1997-98 PSSA scores and/or student attendance.
School achievement is determined by improvement on the Statewide PSSA. Each year, a school's PSSA scores are compared with the school's PSSA baseline, which is the average of its 1996 and 1997 scores. A meaningful increase, which in 1998 was determined to be at least 50 points in total points on the combined school average reading and math assessments, determines whether or not a school qualifies for a reward. The exact minimum increase to qualify for school performance funding in 1998-99 will be determined based on analyses of school performance data as they become available.
School effort is determined by improvement in school attendance and graduation rate. School attendance rates are currently listed on each school's annual school profile. A baseline that includes a 2-year student attendance history is available for every school. For the first 4 years of the school performance funding program, a meaningful increase, which in 1997-98 was at least a 0.75% increase in average daily attendance over the baseline, will determine whether or not a school qualifies for a reward. For high schools, graduation rates will also be considered for future years. While the Department of Education (Department) maintains data on both measures, at present the dropout data that relates to the graduation rate is unreliable. The Department, as part of the school performance funding program, has begun collecting graduation rate data (for high schools only) by school in a more reliable manner starting with the 1997-98 school year. Four years will be required to establish a reliable baseline for graduation rate. Starting in the 2002-2003 school year, a school effort measurement to gauge improvement in both school attendance and graduationrates will be available. The exact percent increase to qualify for school performance funding in 1998-99 will be determined based on studies of school attendance.
Area Vocational-Technical Schools (AVTSs) are included in the program with slightly different school performance measures. The school effort criteria, student attendance rate and graduation rate as described previously, are the same as in all public schools. The achievement component, however, is tailored to the occupational mission of AVTSs. AVTS occupational competency will be determined by student performance on a Statewide occupational competency test required by Charter 4 of the State Board of Education regulations. The SOCAT/NOCTI occupational competency performance tests will be used. After a 2-year baseline of AVTS performance on these tests, an improvement score for the achievement portion of school performance funding for AVTSs will be available in 2000-2001. While the Statewide occupational competency test is being installed and a 2-year data base developed, employment related to training is being used as an interim measure for occupational competency. This is determined by the use of an annual ''Secondary School Completer Survey.'' A meaningful increase, which in 1997-98 was determined to be at least 1%, on the ''Secondary School Completer Survey,'' determines whether or not an AVTS qualifies for a reward. To qualify for this type of achievement improvement funding award in 1997-98, an AVTS had to have achieved a minimum of a 1% improvement in rate of job related placement for its 1998 graduates compared to its job related baseline average of 1995 and 1996 graduates.
Award Guidelines
Schools that attain a demonstrable increase (in 1997-98, 50 combined points on the PSSA tests) in student achievement receive awards of between $7.50 and $37.50 per student depending on the level of increase over the minimum of 50 points.* Schools that attain a meaningful increase in effort (in 1997-98, 0.75% improvement in student attendance rate) receive an incentive payment of between $6 and $37.50 per student depending on the level of increase over the 0.75% minimum increase.** AVTSs that attain a demonstrable increase (in 1997-98, one percentage point in their rate of job-related placement) will receive awards of between $6 and $37.50 per student depending on the level of increase over the estimated minimum increase of 1%.***
Schools have up to 3 years to accomplish significant increases in their achievement or effort data. After 3 years without a significant increase, a new baseline or point of comparison is established for the school. If a school's performance decreases after receiving a performance award, the school will not qualify for performance funding again until the original highest level in both achievement and effort scores has been reattained.
*Increasing levels of achievement are awarded based on combined increases of 10 additional points above the meaningful difference level. For example, with a 50 point increase in combined school raw score on PSSA ascertained to be of meaningful difference in 1997-98, the school received $7.50 per student. Each additional 10 point increase above the meaningful difference received an additional $1.50 of funding per student in the school.
**With a 0.75% increase in student attendance ascertained to be a meaningful increase in 1997-98, the school received $6 per student. Each additional increase of 0.25% above this meaningful difference received an additional $1.50 per student in the school.
***With a 1% increase in student job-related placement ascertained to be a meaningful increase in 1997-98, the AVTS received $7.50 per student. Each additional increase of 1% received an additional $1.50 per student in the AVTS.
EUGENE W. HICKOK,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-192. Filed for public inspection February 5, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]
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