Arkansas’ K-12 Achievement & NSLA Funding

Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators

(AAEA) Fall ConferenceSeptember 4, 2013

1

Agenda

1. Introduction to OEP

2. Overview of Student Achievement … or … Are We 5th or 49th?

3. NSLA Fundinga. Has it been working?

b. OEP thoughts on modifying?

4. How to help struggling schools – one unique strategy

2

3

1. Introduction to the Office for Education Policy

The OEP is a research center within the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas that specializes in education research and policy.

www.officeforeducationpolicy.org

• Publications

• Databases

• Blog

• OEP Awards

• Program Evaluation

and Assistance

4

Office for Education Policy

5

Office for Education Policy Publications

Arkansas Education Policy Briefs Report CardsReports (AER)

Remember to sign up for our weekly e-mail, OEP Web Links (OWL), to get updated on current education news across the state and nation. Please e-mail oep@uark.edu to sign

up.

Also, sign up for the OEP Blog at www.officeforedpolicy.com to receive alerts when the latest OEP Blog posts are published.

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Office for Education Policy Databases

• Benchmark• End of Course• Norm Referenced (ITBS)• Demographics• Finances

• School- and District-Level

• Growth over Time• Similar Districts

OEP Similar Schools Database

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• Allows for comparisons to districts with similar or the same SES characteristics, including % FRL, % household bachelor degrees, median income, and district enrollment growth.

Find on our website (Officeforeducationpolicy.org), under Arkansas Schools Data

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www.officeforedpolicy.com

Topical Issues in Arkansas Ed Policy

Summaries of Interesting Education Research

Summaries of OEP Publications

These posts can be interesting to school leaders and teachers and parents.

9

Outstanding Educational Performance (OEP) Awards

We think it’s important to highlight when schools do an excellent job.

We give OEP awards to the top 25 schools in different categories:

High-Achieving Elementary Schools in Arkansas High-Achieving Middle Schools in Arkansas Beating the Odds – High-Achieving Schools Serving Low-Income Communities High-Achieving Elementary Schools by Region High-Achieving Middle Schools by Region High-Achieving High Schools Across Arkansas Most Improved Schools

The top winner in each category is invited to ourspring OEP conference to accept their award in person.

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Program Evaluation and Assistance

Trying a specific strategy in your school and want to know if it’s effective? Let us know before you start, and we can help!

Bentonville Technology

RazorCoaches Northwest Arkansas• Wild cards• Helped with recommendations for 2nd year implementation

Merit Pay Program Design and Assistance

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Creation of School Achievement Reports and Presentations to School Communities

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Are We 5th or 49th?

An Overview of Student Achievement in Arkansas

Overall AR Achievement:

How was Arkansas’ performance on the Benchmark and End-of-Course

Exams in 2012-13? Over time?

13

Benchmark Performance• Growth over

time, until slight decrease in 2012-13 in literacy and math

• Slight decrease can be attributed to many factors, including ceiling effects and CCSS “implementation dip”

• Grade-level trends: lower grades perform at higher levels than upper grades

75%

78%

77%

68%

55%

79%

81%

75%

64%

59%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

2012-13

2011-12

2010-11

2007-08

2005-06

% Proficient/Advanced

Literacy Math

Benchmark, Grade 3 – 8, % Proficient/Advanced, Over time

14

EOC Performance

• In 2012-13, slight decreases in Algebra & Geometry scores

• Steady increases in Grade 11 Literacy and Biology scores over time

44%

70%

72%

77%

42%

68%

75%

81%

41%

65%

72%

78%

29%

51%

60%

66%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Biology

Literacy

Geometry

Algebra

% Proficient/Advanced

2007-08 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

15

How was Arkansas’ performance on the NAEP in 2011? Over time?

16

NAEP

• National Assessment of Education Progress – Nation’s Report Card

• Administered to random sample of 4th and 8th grade students

• Most recent data from 2011– New 2013 NAEP data to be released this fall

17

NAEP Math, 2011Grade 4

MS LA TN OK AR US MO TX0

10

20

30

40

50

215

225

235

245

230 231 233 237 238 240 240 241

25 26

30

34

3739

42

39

Mean Scale Score % Proficient & Advanced

• Grade 4 in math: Slightly below national average18

NAEP Math, 2011Grade 8

MS LA TN OK AR MO US TX0

10

20

30

40

50

255

265

275

285

295

269 273 274 279 279 282 283 290

19

2224

2729

3234

40

Mean Scale Score % Proficient & Advanced

• Grade 8 in math: Below national average19

NAEP Reading, 2011Grade 4

MS LA OK TN AR TX US MO0

10

20

30

40

200

205

210

215

220

225

209 210 215 215 217 218 220 220

2223

26 26

3029

32

34

Mean Scale Score % Proficient & Advanced

• Grade 4 in reading: Below national average 20

NAEP Reading, 2011Grade 8

MS LA TN AR OK TX US MO0

10

20

30

40

245

250

255

260

265

270

254 255 259 259 260 261 264 267

2122

2728

27 27

32

36

Mean Scale Score % Proficient & Advanced

• Grade 8 in reading: Below national average 21

NAEP Performance, 2011AR %

ProfUS %

ProfDiff Surrounding

States

Grade 4 Math 37% 39% -2% AR > TN, OKA, LA, MS

Grade 4 Reading 30% 32% -2% AR > TN, OK, LA, MS

Grade 8 Math 29% 34% -5% AR > OK, TN, LA, MS

Grade 8 Reading 28% 32% -4% AR > TN, LA, MS

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NAEP Performance, Over time

• In math, in grades 4 and 8, Arkansas’s students have decreased the gap between Arkansas and the nation on the NAEP.

• However, Arkansas still performs less well than the nation in math and grades 4 and 8 on the NAEP. (Closer in Grade 4)

1992 1996 2000 2003 2005 2007 2009 20110

10

20

30

40

50

1013 13

26

3437 36 37

1720

25

3135

39 38 40

AR U.S.

Math, Grade 4

1990 1992 1996 2000 2003 2005 2007 2009 20110

10

20

30

40

9 1013 14

1922

2427

29

15

2023

26 27 2831

33 34

AR U.S.

Math, Grade 8

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NAEP Performance, Over time

• In literacy, in grades 4 and 8, Arkansas’s students have decreased the gap between Arkansas and the nation on the NAEP.

• However, Arkansas still performs less well than the nation in literacy and grades 4 and 8 on the NAEP. (Closer in Grade 4)

Reading, Grade 4 Reading, Grade 8

1992 1994 1998 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 20110

10

20

30

40

23 24 2326

2830 29 29 30

27 28 29 30 30 3032 32 32

AR U.S.

1998 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 20110

10

20

30

40

23

27 27 26 2527 28

31 31 30 29 29 3032

AR U.S.

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5th or 49th?

• Two stories are out there today:1. AR is backwards … “Thank goodness for

Mississippi” … falling way behind in school quality

2. AR is rapidly climbing … 6th in national rankings on the 2012 Quality Counts report and now 5th in 2013!! AR has better schools than in Connecticut, Florida, and Texas.

• Let’s look at comparable data to do a fair comparison of AR scores to US totals.

25

NAEP Math, 2011

AR US AR US 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

26 2418 19

57 57

4447

FRL Eligible

FRL Not Eligible

Grade 4 Grade 8

“Apples to Apples” Comparisons – Positive Results for AR

• In Grade 4, Arkansas’ FRL students were slightly ahead of the nation’s average.• In Grade 8, Arkansas’ FRL students were slightly below the nation’s average.26

NAEP Reading, 2011

AR US AR US0

10

20

30

40

50

60

20 18 18 18

48 48

4144

FRL Eligible

FRL Not Eligible

Grade 4 Grade 8

“Apples to Apples” Comparisons – Positive Results for AR

• In Grade 4, Arkansas’ FRL students were slightly ahead of the nation’s average.• In Grade 8, Arkansas’ FRL students were on par with the nation’s average. 27

NAEP v. Region, 2011

• Arkansas compares well to surrounding states and to the nation when scores are compared by poverty level.

• Our state suffers in the overall category because more of our students are in the low income group than in other states.

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Math Reading Math Reading Math ReadingOverall Low Income Higher Income

200

210

220

230

240

250

260

238

217

230

207

252

233235

215

228

205

248

231

241

221

229

207

252

235

Arkansas Surrounding National

Math and Reading, Grade 4: Comparison to Region/US by Income

Careful with these results…

• When comparing performance of FRL students across

states, it is important to keep in mind cost of living.– Income level of for a family of four at ~$30,000 (free lunch

threshold) looks different in Little Rock than in Los Angeles

• Therefore, FRL is an imperfect measure when

examining poverty levels and comparing data across

states.

• This might generate a positive BIAS for AR• E.G. LR FRL = $30K ~= $22K in Seattle; thus comparing a

“wealthier” set of AR kids to WA kids.29

Back to the Question at Hand …

What do we think we know so far?• AR students have been improving:

- Benchmark and EOC growth over time (until 2012-13)- But test scores generally increase with time due to test

familiarity...so it’s important to compare AR to the US

- Slight NAEP overall growth over time- Slight decrease in AR/US gap in 4th grade math/reading

• Relates to question: Has NSLA funding for FRL students helped?

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NSLA Funding

Is It Effective?

The NSLA Question

1. How does NSLA funding work?2. How do we know if it works?

- If it were working, what changes might we expect to see?

3. So, what did we find about possible effectiveness?

4. Given the uncertainty, could we have expected great gains? (How were funds used?)

5. After all this, what would we suggest?

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NSLA: How does it work?

• In the 2013 Quality Counts report, Arkansas received a B+ on equity funding, ranking it as one of the top states in the nation in distributing equity funding to districts.

• Arkansas should be commended for its focus on students in poverty, as the formula does channel more resources toward students in poverty, particularly those in very poor districts.

33

NSLA: How does it work?

Math (GPA Measure), Districts By % FRL Literacy (GPA Measure), Districts By % FRL

0-20% 20%-30%

30%-40%

40%-50%

50%-60%

60%-70%

70%-80%

80%-90%

90%-100%

2

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

2011-12 2009-10 2007-08

0-10% 20%-30%

30%-40%

40%-50%

50%-60%

60%-70%

70%-80%

80%-90%

90%-100%

2

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

2011-12 2009-10 2007-08

• We know that districts with 70% or more FRL students see a drop in achievement.

• NSLA funding seeks to allocate more funding to those districts.

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NSLA Funding: How does it work?

0% 6% 12% 18% 24% 30% 36% 42% 48% 54% 60% 66% 72% 78% 84% 90% 96% $-

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

$1,600

$1,800

% FRL of School

$ p

er F

RL

Pu

pil

The tiered system creates two “cliffs.”

• “Cliffs” cause districts with very similar demographics to be treated differently in the funding system. • For example, a district with 69% FRL receives less

funding per FRL pupil than a district with 70% FRL; however, student bodies with 69% and 70% FRL look relatively similar.

35

The Big Q – How would we know if NSLA funding worked?

• We might observe …– Hypothesis 1: Increased scores for FRL students

(relative to non-FRL students) … this may be the most important!

– Hypothesis 2: Districts just above the “cliffs” performing better relative to those just below the “cliffs.”

– Hypothesis 3: Districts with influxes in NSLA funds performing better than in past.

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So, what do we know about NSLA?

• It is important to note that we do not have the counterfactual to examine how districts would perform without poverty funding. Nevertheless, we do know that:

1. Most agree that additional resources should be provided to schools with higher concentrations of poverty (to help students overcome additional challenges associated poverty).

2. No research indicates exact $$ amount needed to create equal opportunities for poor students.

3. From data presented thus far, no justification for funding “cliffs” (theoretical or empirical).

So, how do districts use NSLA funding?

37

So, how do districts use NSLA funding?Expenditure Categories

Year Coded as Exp.

Percent of NSLA Funding in 2011-12

Literacy, Math, and Science Specialists and Coaches 2003 16.51%

Other activities approved by the ADE - 11.56%High Qualified Classroom Teachers 2003 9.42%Transfer to ALE Categorical Fund - 8.63%School Improvement Plan -  8.62%Counselors, Social Workers, Nurses 2003 8.30%Teachers’ Aides 2003 8.17%Curriculum Specialist 2003 4.69%Pre-Kindergarten 2003 3.27%

Before and After School Academic Programs 2003 2.76%

Supplementing Salaries of Classroom Teachers -  2.77%

Tutors 2003 2.35%Transfer to ELL Categorical Fund   2.28%

Professional Development in Literacy, Math, and Science 2003 2.02%

Summer Programs 2003 1.28%Early Intervention 2003 1.22%Transfer to Special Educations Programs -  0.93%

Transfer to Professional Development Categorical Fund -  0.87%

District Required Free Meal Program 2011 0.70%Parent Education 2003 0.52%ACT Fees for 11th Graders and Operating/Supporting a Post-Secondary Preparatory Program 2011 0.10%Scholastic Audit -  0.37%

Districted Reduced-Lunch Meal Program 2011 0.05%

Remediation activities for college 2011 0.05%

Teach For America professional development 2011 0.03%

Implementing Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science 2011 0.01%

Hiring Career and College Coaches 2011 0.00%

Materials, supplies, and equipment including technology 2003 -

Expenses related to a longer school day 2011 -Expenses related to a longer school year 2011 -

Shaded box denotes a coded use originally set in 2003.

38

How do districts use NSLA funding?

• The majority of districts distribute funding among 8 or more expenditure codes.

• Districts seldom focus the money in one or two specific areas; therefore, it seems if many districts use the funding to plug gaps in budgets.

• It is unclear as to whether all districts are specifically pinpointing the funding towards students in poverty (or schools serving these students).

• For example, a district may spend a large portion of funding on Highly Qualified teachers or Specialists – these teachers may or may not work specifically with the low-income students.

• Furthermore, districts do not use all the funding – many have balances at the end of the year.

39

How do districts use NSLA funding?

• Given the uncertainty, could we have expected great gains? – Funds have spent across the board by most

districts– No clear evidence that funding has been focused

for students in poverty–Money is allocated to district offices and not even

to schools with high levels of poverty

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41

NSLA Funding

OEP’s Thoughts

What do we recommend?

Two main discussions this year:

• Distribution of funds

– “Smooth sliding” scale to replace the current tiered system

– Distribute more funding for districts with higher concentrations of

FRL students

– Weighting the funding to differentiate between poverty levels by

factoring in the difference between “free” and “reduced” lunch

students

– Leftover balances by districts

• Use of funding: more or less prescriptive?

42

Example of a Smooth Distribution

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% $-

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

$1,600

$1,800

Accel Smooth Option Status Quo

• “Smooth” sliding scale • Weighted to account for differences in “free” and “reduced”

• Weights are 75% for Reduced-Lunch Students and 100% for Free-Lunch Students.

43

Problem: Several “affluent” districts would lose $$

Smoother … but prescriptive?

Should the use of NSLA funding be more prescriptive?

Long debate over extent of “mandating the spending matrix”

• Arguments for prescriptive use:– Current lack of focus of funds– Pinpoint only to students in poverty– Use prescriptive manner as a way to figure out what works

• Arguments against prescriptive use:– Flexibility is necessary: State-wide policies may not fit for

all.– What do you prescribe? Research isn’t conclusive on what

works best 44

Concluding Thoughts• Arkansas scores on the Benchmark and EOC have improved in the

past 10 years, but… much of the NAEP increases occurred before

2003 (slides 18 and 19)

• On the NAEP, Arkansas students have only slightly increased scores

in 4th grade and 8th grade

– FRL and non-FRL students have produced gains; but non-FRL students

have experienced greater gains

• It is difficult to determine the effectiveness of NSLA funding over the

past 10 years.

– The gap between FRL and non-FRL students has not shrunk.

• Policymakers and districts need to continue to strategically think

about how NSLA funding can be pinpointed so that students in

poverty can achieve at higher levels. 45

46

A Promising Strategy for School Improvement:

Arkansas Teacher Corps

Comments? Questions?

Thank you for your time and input!

47

Hypothesis 1:FRL Students vs Non-FRL Students

• If NSLA Funding were working, we might expect to see increase in achievement for FRL students relative to non-FRL students.

48

Benchmark Achievement

Math 2005-06 2011-12 Percentile Point Growth

Non-FRL students 62nd 66th +4 FRL students 40th 40th 0

Literacy 2005-06 2011-12 Percentile Point Growth

Non-FRL students 63rd 66th +3FRL students 39th 43rd +4

Math, 2005-06 to 2011-12

Literacy, 2005-06 to 2011-12

In math, the gap between FRL and non-FRL students has widened over time.

In literacy, FRL students have slightly closed the gap; but FRL students still perform less well.

49

NAEP Growth, 2003 to 2011

50

Math Reading Math Reading Math ReadingOverall Low Income Higher Income

0

3

6

9

12

15

+9

+3

+9

+3

+13

+6+6

+2

+7

+4

+7

+4

+6

+3

+7+6

+8

+6

Arkansas Surrounding National

Math and Reading Score Gains, 2003 to 2011

• Over the past decade, Arkansas scores have grown by leaps and bounds, but that statistic is padded by lower baseline scores.

• The greatest gains come in math and for higher-income students.

Hypothesis 1:FRL Students vs Non-FRL Students

• Achievement gap between FRL and non-FRL students continues to exist.– Benchmark• Gap is widening in math performance• Gap is slightly shrinking in literacy

– NAEP• Non-FRL produced higher gains than FRL students over

time

51

Hypothesis 2:“Cliff” Districts

• “Cliffs” cause districts with very similar demographics to be treated differently in the funding system. • For example, a district with 69% FRL receives less funding

per FRL pupil than a district with 70% FRL; however, student bodies with 69% and 70% FRL look relatively similar.

• The “cliffs” allow us to compare the performance of relatively similar districts (e.g. 69% to 70%) that receive different amounts of funding.

• Thus, if NSLA were working, we would see greater performance for districts “above the cliffs”

52

Hypothesis 2:“Cliff” Districts

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-132.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

2.80

3.00

3.20

3.40

3.60

3.80

4.00

64%-69% 70% - 75%

State Average

Benchmark Math GPA, 2007-08 to 2012-13

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-132.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

2.80

3.00

3.20

3.40

3.60

3.80

4.00

64%-69% 70% - 75%

State Average

Benchmark Literacy GPA, 2007-08 to 2012-13

• On the math and literacy benchmark exams, the districts just above and below the cliff (thus, districts who are socio-economically “equal”) perform nearly identically.

Achievement Comparisons at the 70% “Cliff”*

53

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-132.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

2.80

3.00

3.20

3.40

3.60

3.80

4.00

84%-89% 90%-95%

State Average

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-132.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

2.80

3.00

3.20

3.40

3.60

3.80

4.00

84%-89% 90%-95%

State Average

• On the math and literacy benchmark exams, districts just below the 90% cliff outperformed the districts above the cliff.

Hypothesis 2:“Cliff” Districts

Benchmark Math GPA, 2007-08 to 2012-13 Benchmark Literacy GPA, 2007-08 to 2012-13

Achievement Comparisons at the 90% “Cliff”*

54

Hypothesis 3:Increased Funding

• When a district “moves up a tier” by having a higher % of FRL students, FRL students may perform at higher levels after the district has received more funding.

• Thus, if NSLA were working, we would see greater performance for districts after the new funds

• Since 2004-05, some districts have moved into a higher tier of poverty funding. The achievement of these districts was compared and at both the 70% and 90% cliffs, no district showed an increase in achievement as a result of a financial windfall.

55

So, what do we know about NSLA?• It is important to note that we do not have the counterfactual

to examine how districts would perform without poverty funding. Nevertheless, we do know that:

1. Most agree that additional resources should be provided to schools with higher concentrations of poverty (to help students overcome additional challenges associated poverty).

2. No research indicates exact $$ amount needed to create equal opportunities for poor students.

3. From data presented thus far, no justification for funding “cliffs” (theoretical or empirical).

So, how do districts use NSLA funding?

56

So, how do districts use NSLA funding?Expenditure Categories

Year Coded as Exp.

Percent of NSLA Funding in 2011-12

Literacy, Math, and Science Specialists and Coaches 2003 16.51%

Other activities approved by the ADE - 11.56%High Qualified Classroom Teachers 2003 9.42%Transfer to ALE Categorical Fund - 8.63%School Improvement Plan -  8.62%Counselors, Social Workers, Nurses 2003 8.30%Teachers’ Aides 2003 8.17%Curriculum Specialist 2003 4.69%Pre-Kindergarten 2003 3.27%

Before and After School Academic Programs 2003 2.76%

Supplementing Salaries of Classroom Teachers -  2.77%

Tutors 2003 2.35%Transfer to ELL Categorical Fund   2.28%

Professional Development in Literacy, Math, and Science 2003 2.02%

Summer Programs 2003 1.28%Early Intervention 2003 1.22%Transfer to Special Educations Programs -  0.93%

Transfer to Professional Development Categorical Fund -  0.87%

District Required Free Meal Program 2011 0.70%Parent Education 2003 0.52%ACT Fees for 11th Graders and Operating/Supporting a Post-Secondary Preparatory Program 2011 0.10%Scholastic Audit -  0.37%

Districted Reduced-Lunch Meal Program 2011 0.05%

Remediation activities for college 2011 0.05%

Teach For America professional development 2011 0.03%

Implementing Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science 2011 0.01%

Hiring Career and College Coaches 2011 0.00%

Materials, supplies, and equipment including technology 2003 -

Expenses related to a longer school day 2011 -Expenses related to a longer school year 2011 -

Shaded box denotes a coded use originally set in 2003.

57

How do districts use NSLA funding?

• The majority of districts distribute funding among 8 or more expenditure codes.

• Districts seldom focus the money in one or two specific areas; therefore, it seems if many districts use the funding to plug gaps in budgets.

• It is unclear as to whether all districts are specifically pinpointing the funding towards students in poverty (or schools serving these students).

• For example, a district may spend a large portion of funding on Highly Qualified teachers or Specialists – these teachers may or may not work specifically with the low-income students.

• Furthermore, districts do not use all the funding – many have balances at the end of the year.

58

How do districts use NSLA funding?

• Given the uncertainty, could we have expected great gains? – Funds have spent across the board by most

districts– No clear evidence that funding has been focused

for students in poverty–Money is allocated to district offices and not even

to schools with high levels of poverty

59