Arkansas Value-Added Growth Model

Arkansas uses a Value-Added Growth Model to measure how much progress students make from year to year, starting with each individual student’s score history. This approach determines whether each student is making progress along their individualized path, regardless of their starting point.

The model is a powerful tool for multiple purposes at the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), including:

Calculating school letter grades

Recognizing and rewarding schools with the highest growth in the state

Determining teacher merit pay eligibility

At the School Level the data should be used to:

Inform the effectiveness of last year’s instructional practices

Understand teacher impact on student learning

Informing student placement decisions

By focusing on individual progress, the model provides a fair and meaningful measure of school and teacher impact, ensuring that growth is recognized for every student—whether they are catching up, keeping pace, or accelerating beyond expectations.