STAR first interim assessment to report Student Growth Percentile

New data follows national trend in growth reporting to increase consistency across states

February 16, 2012, Wisconsin Rapids, WI –Renaissance Learning, a leading provider of technology-based student assessment programs, announced today that its STAR assessments will report the Student Growth Percentile (SGP) measure starting in spring 2012.

Announced this week at the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education in Houston, STAR Reading and STAR Math are the first interim assessments to report SGP. Student Growth Percentile is a widely accepted measure that compares students’ growth to their academic peers nationwide. Already adopted by 12 states, SGP has previously been reported exclusively in summative state tests. STAR users will now be able to monitor student growth using SGP as an interim assessment measure while there is still time to make adjustments at the student, class, grade, school, and district levels.

“Across the nation, Student Growth Percentile is helping to expand the question of whether students are performing below, at, or above proficiency to whether educators and schools are creating an environment where all students are learning,” Renaissance Learning Chief Executive Officer Glenn R. James said. “Renaissance Learning is pleased to play a role in the national transition toward consistent and coherent growth reporting.”

SGP was developed by Dr. Damian Betebenner from The National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment (NCIEA) in partnership with the Colorado Department of Education. Dr. Dan Bolt from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dr. Betebenner provided technical assistance to help adapt SGP for STAR Assessments.

STAR computer adaptive assessments offer expanded skills-based testing, screening, and reports that provide data for instructional planning based on skills mastery, progress monitoring, and standards benchmarking. STAR is statistically linked to a research-based learning progression called Core Progress, providing a bridge between assessment and instruction to help educators determine appropriate steps to align students to the Common Core State Standards and assure college and career readiness. STAR assessments have received the highest ratings for screening and progress monitoring from the National Center on Response to Intervention (NCRTI). SGP data will roll out this spring for STAR customers and over the summer for all STAR Enterprise customers.

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About Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of technology-based school improvement and student assessment programs for K12 schools. Renaissance Learning’s tools provide daily formative assessment and periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance core curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in reading, writing and math. Renaissance Learning products and school improvement programs help educators make the practice component of their existing curriculum more effective by providing tools to personalize practice and easily manage the daily activities for students of all levels. As a result, teachers using Renaissance Learning products and programs accelerate learning, get more satisfaction from teaching, and help students achieve higher test scores on state and national tests.