The methodology used in Pennsylvania for value-added assessment is based on the SAS EVAAS methodology. More simple models for value-added assessment (unlike SAS EVAAS) may yield results that may be confounded by measurement error and exclude students who have missing data in their assessment history. Pennsylvania’s implementation of EVAAS is called the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS). The EVAAS methodology has been published since 1998 and has been nationally peer reviewed. Following a pilot from 2002-2005, PVAAS has been implemented statewide in Pennsylvania since 2006.
In addition to Pennsylvania, SAS EVAAS is involved in the statewide implementation of district, school, and/or teacher-specific reporting in Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. SAS EVAAS also provides statewide analysis of data in Mississippi and North Dakota, as well as analysis for several regional and district implementations across the United States, including the District of Columbia Public Schools, Newark NJ, and several districts in Texas. SAS EVAAS has been involved with research on the effectiveness of teachers as measured by value-added analyses for over 20 years.
These resources offer information on how growth is measured and student-level projections are calculated, including full methodology details.
- PVAAS Methodologies: Measuring Growth & Projecting Achievement (PDF)
- Statistical Models and Business Rules of PVAAS Analyses (PDF)
These resources offer information specific to various methodology questions and topics.
- Changes in PA’s Assessment System: Is there an impact on PVAAS? (PDF)
- High Achievement & High Growth: Can It Be Done? (PDF)
- Including Re-testers’ Keystone Scores in District & School Growth Calculations (PDF)
- Making Sense of NCEs and Standard Errors (PDF)
- Misconceptions about PVAAS Reporting for Pennsylvania (PDF)
- What Educators Should Know about PVAAS Student Probabilities (PDF)
These resources offer information related to value-added research.
These resources and data files are provided to illustrate state-wide achievement and growth data of Pennsylvania’s LEAs, districts, and schools in tested subjects and grades. (Note: no files are available for SY2019-2020 as state assessments were not administered during that school year.)
SY 23-24 Data
- PVAAS District Value-Added, SY 23-24 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Value-Added, SY 23-24 (Excel)
- PVAAS District Student Groups, SY 23-24 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Student Groups, SY 23-24 (Excel)
SY 22-23 Data
- PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots, SY22-23 (PDF)
- PVAAS District Value-Added, SY22-23 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Value-Added, SY22-23 (Excel)
- PVAAS District Student Groups, SY22-23 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Student Groups, SY 22-23 (Excel)
SY 21-22 Data
- PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots, SY21-22 (PDF)
- PVAAS District Value-Added, SY21-22 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Value-Added, SY21-22 (Excel)
- PVAAS District Student Groups, SY21-22 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Student Groups, SY21-22 (Excel)
SY 20-21 Data
- PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots, SY20-21 (PDF)
- PVAAS District Value-Added, SY20-21 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Value-Added, SY20-21 (Excel)
- PVAAS District Student Groups, SY20-21 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Student Groups, SY20-21 (Excel)
SY 19-20 Data
N/A - state assessments not administered
SY 18-19 Data
- PVAAS Statewide Scatterplots, SY18-19 (PDF)
- PVAAS District Value-Added, SY18-19 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Value-Added, SY18-19 (Excel)
- PVAAS School Student Groups, SY18-19 (Excel)
SY 17-18 Data
Support and Assistance
For answers to questions regarding statewide support or professional learning, please contact the PVAAS Statewide Team via phone: 717-606-1911 or email: pdepvaas@iu13.org.