The purpose and effect of this rule amendment is to adopt an updated “Florida VAM Course List,” which is the publication that lists the courses a teacher can teach to receive a value-added model (VAM) score, and to amend ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-5.0411Calculations of Student Learning Growth for Use in School Personnel Evaluations

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect of this rule amendment is to adopt an updated “Florida VAM Course List,” which is the publication that lists the courses a teacher can teach to receive a value-added model (VAM) score, and to amend directory and rule reference information that has been updated since the rule was last amended in 2022.

SUMMARY: The course list identified in the “Course Code Directory and Instructional Personnel Assignments,” adopted and incorporated in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C., is amended on an annual basis, and the “Florida VAM Course List” must be updated as a result of these changes. To align the VAM course list with the course code directory, the proposed amendment does the following: removes courses that are no longer in the course code directory; adds courses that are new for the 2023-24 school year; and updates course names that have changed since the list was adopted in 2021-22. Ultimately, the new course list will contain the 2023-24 VAM courses that will be used to compute teacher scores for the 2023-24 school year.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The rule amendment relates only to the alignment of the VAM course list with the course code directory, ensuring the continuation of a unified system for calculating VAM results; therefore, there is no impact on economic growth, private sector job creation, employment, private sector investment, business competitiveness, or any other factors found in section 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and no legislative ratification is required. This determination is based upon similar amendments in the past.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1012.34, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.34, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: March 27, 2024, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Winter Park High School, 2100 Summerfield Rd, Winter Park, FL 32792.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Justin Tarin, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Accountability Reporting, Division of Accountability, Research, and Measurement, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 514, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400, [phone]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-5.0411 Calculations of Student Learning Growth for Use in School Personnel Evaluations.

(1) No change.

(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply.

(a) No change.

(b) “Courses associated with statewide, standardized assessments” or “courses associated with statewide, standardized assessments under Section 1008.22, F.S.,” are those courses which are assessed by statewide, standardized assessments and are listed in the publication, “Florida VAM Course List,” (effective April 2024 March 2022), which is incorporated herein by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14061). A copy of the Florida VAM Course List may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 514 544, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

(c) through (f) No change.

(g) “Staff information system.” The staff information system is the comprehensive management information system maintained by the Department containing staff data reported by school districts in accordance with Rule 6A-1.0014, F.A.C., (https://www.flrules.org/gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05723) which is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of Rule 6A-1.0014, F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 514 544, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

(h) through (j) No change.

(3) Formulas for measuring student learning growth.

(a) The English Language Arts and Mathematics value-added models.

1. No change.

2. The formula for the model. A full technical description of the data sources, formula, covariates, and methodology for calculating VAM scores is provided in the publication, “Florida VAM Methodology” (Effective August 2015) (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05724), which is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of “Florida VAM Methodology” may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 514 544, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

3. through 4. No change.

(b) No change.

(4) Data Collected and Reported for VAM.

(a) Data collection and reporting procedures for purposes of VAM calculations shall be as provided in the publication, Florida VAM Methodology. As set forth in this publication in more detail, data from the Student Information System and Staff Information System obtained from Surveys 2 and 3 are used in VAM calculations. School districts submit Survey 2 and 3 data to the Department’s Student Information System and Staff Information System pursuant to Rule 6A-1.0014, F.A.C. (Comprehensive Management Information System) and Rule 6A-1.0451, F.A.C. (Florida Education Finance Program Student Membership Surveys) (https://www.flrules.org/gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05725). These rules are incorporated by reference herein, and a copy of the rules may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 514 544, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

(b) No change.

(5) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), ((2)(n), 1012.34 FS. Law Implemented 1012.34 FS. History–New 9-9-15, Amended 4-30-18, 3-15-22,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Justin Tarin, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Accountability Reporting, Division of Accountability, Research, and Measurement.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 12, 2024

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: December 21, 2023