Future Ready PA Index

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has recently released the Future Ready PA Index.  This public site (https://futurereadypa.org/) provides an academic performance score for public schools in the state. This performance score is designed with several purposes in mind:

• to inform the public of school performance

• to provide a building level score for educators as part of their evaluation system

• to allow the public to compare schools across the state

• to give schools a methodology to analyze their strengths and needs

While public schools across the state have previously received designations under No Child Left Behind (e.g., Made Adequate Yearly Progress, Making Progress, Warning, School Improvement, Corrective Action), schools will now receive an academic performance score based upon many data points.  Test scores, progress in closing achievement gaps, and degree of student growth over time are factored into the scoring while other identifiers of high achieving schools are also considered: graduation, promotion, and attendance rates as well as evidence of offering rigorous courses factor into the calculation.  Schools may also earn extra points beyond the 100 point scoring system for those students who have earned advanced scores on the state, industry, and Advanced Placement Exams.

In addition to the scoring aspect of the site, the public can compare schools within and across the state.  For schools, the site also offers supports for schools to consider as they identify needs in the academic profile.

EYSD School Board members, administrators, staff, and students in our district have begun to review the data and calculations.