S.F. 1406 Summary

• Establishes definitions for student achievement measurement including "growth," "value-added," "growth-based value-added," and "state growth target" to create uniform statewide measures beginning in 2008-2009 school year benchmarked to 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 data.

• Requires commissioner to implement a growth-based value-added system using models that measure individual student progress over time and identify schools demonstrating low, medium, and high growth compared to state targets.

• Mandates separate reporting of student growth and proficiency measures with disaggregated data by nine federal No Child Left Behind student categories and gender categories for all cell sizes of at least 20 students.

• Requires state academic performance reports to include student growth percentages, school safety and engagement data, rigorous coursework completion rates, and preparation measures for college and career readiness beginning July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2013.

• Repeals Minnesota Statutes section 120B.362 and requires convening expert groups to develop prediction models comparing school performance to similar schools and to identify reliable variables for measuring student engagement and school safety.