Linking Data, Teaching and Learning: Grow Reports and Project VITAL

The partnering of Grow student performance reports with VITAL instructional resources provides educators across upstate New York with a unique opportunity to target student learning needs identified by state tests using video-based materials.  Grow reports serve a two-step assessment function by collating student performance on New York State’s comprehensive Math and ELA exams given annually to all students in grades 3 through 8, and making these performance data available electronically by content strand at various disaggregated levels.  The VITAL resources serve a pedagogical function by offering teachers video-based instructional materials that align with the State’s standards and core curricula to target students’ particular learning needs, whether remediation or enrichment.  When used together, Grow with VITAL has the potential to help teachers monitor and adjust their instruction to reflect the specific learning needs of each student as identified by state tests. 

Hezel Associates is the evaluator for this five-year project.  The evaluation consists of four related strands of activities that encompass key target audiences (teachers, students, schools), considers variations across content areas and grade levels, and examines the potential integration of the digital resources into larger school improvement efforts.  The activities include:

• Formative research, including surveys of a representative sample of New York State school districts and follow-up case studies.  This research describes the contexts in which VITAL will be implemented, including the extent of—and factors influencing—data-based decision making for instructional mapping, access to technology, and information needs and gaps.
• Impact studies employing a Gold Standard experimental design that seek to measure the effect of VITAL on teachers and ultimately on students.
• A study of statewide rollout that examines the diffusion of Year 1 VITAL materials and whether and how low-performing and Title I districts and schools move toward incorporating these resources into their professional development approach and activities.
• A study of the implementation of materials and training in teacher preparation programs that looks at the adoption of program materials into pre-service teacher training in New York State schools of education.

VITAL Facts

Student Performance Results

• New York State has contracted with The Grow Network to create and deliver nySTART/Grow reports to teachers, parents, and school administrators across the state for students in grades three through eight (Math and English Language Arts) and for all students in grades three through 12 who qualify for the State's Alternative Assessment (special education). 

• Grow Reports provide teachers with data indicating the performance level of students tracked against New York State Learning Standards in Math and English Language Arts, and then make available additional instructional resources that can be used to respond to the specific needs of individual students.

 Video-Based Classroom Experience

• By adding to the classroom video content (and other related material) that aligns with specific New York State Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Math in grades three through eight, VITAL enables teachers to link rich resources to both standards and test results.
  
  
• VITAL embeds content into the Grow Reports based on research suggesting that video materials – carefully selected and properly used – can have a positive impact on student achievement, especially among the large group of students who have learning needs that are not met by the use of traditional print-based curricula.
  

• VITAL will further increase the impact that nySTART/Grow can have on teacher performance and on student achievement in core subjects, especially among currently underserved students. Additionally, VITAL includes a model for professional development, along with added assessment tools for teachers.