Table of Contents

Teacher Value-Added

Composite

The teacher composite combines each teacher's growth measures from relevant tests, subjects, and years to report a composite index and level (1-5).

For the 2023-24 reporting year, there are two evaluation composites are available for each teacher:

  • Single-Year Composite, comprised solely of value-added measures from the 2023-24 school year

  • Multi-Year Composite (up to 3 years), comprised of value-added measures from 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 school years

Weighting within each year is by the number of students, then each year is weighted equally. For more information see section 6.1 in Statistical Models and Business Rules.

The Evaluation Composite combines, where applicable, each teacher's TCAP and EOC value-added growth measures to report the associated index and level (1-5) across all assessments. Because the growth measures for each grade and subject or course are on different scales, it's not possible to provide a meaningful composite growth measure. However, growth index values across all grades, subjects, and courses are on the same scale, so they can be combined in an appropriate and meaningful way. As a result, you will see a single index value for the composite. This value incorporates both the growth of the teacher's students and the associated standard error. Links to additional resources from the Tennessee Department of Education are here.

Understanding the Report

The table shows the teacher's composite index and effectiveness level.

The report also includes a table that lists all grades, subjects, and years included in the teacher's composite growth index. The table includes the number of full-time equivalent students who were included in the calculation for each grade and subject or course. Because a teacher can claim partial instructional responsibility for each student, the number of students listed here might not be a whole number.

For more information about teacher composites, see the Statistical Models and Business Rules of TVAAS Analyses.

Effectiveness Levels

The effectiveness levels applied to index values indicate how strong the evidence of growth is for the students served. When more data is available, there is more evidence to determine whether the group of students exceeded, met, or fell short of expected growth. The effectiveness level of the composite might differ from the effectiveness levels for single subjects and grades or courses because there is more evidence when all the data is combined for the composite. With data from multiple grades, subjects, and years, there is more evidence than for any single subject, grade, or course alone.

The effectiveness levels are color-coded using the same rules that are used in the value-added reports for single subjects.

Effectiveness LevelGrowth Index ValueInterpretation
Level 5 - Most Effective

2.00 or higher

Significant evidence that the teacher's students made more progress than expected growth

Level 4 - Above Average Effectiveness

Between 1.00 and 2.00

Moderate evidence that the teacher's students made more progress than expected growth

Level 3 - Average Effectiveness

Between -1.00 and 1.00

Evidence that the teacher's students made progress similar to expected growth

Level 2 - Approaching Average Effectiveness

Between -2.00 and -1.00

Moderate evidence that the teacher's students made less progress than expected growth

Level 1 - Least Effective

Less than -2.00

Significant evidence that the teacher's students made less progress than expected growth

When a growth index falls exactly on the boundary between two colors, the higher effectiveness level is assigned.

District Average

The option to display District Average is available when there is sufficient data. The District Average appears as a vertical purple line. This value represents the average of all teacher index values in the district for the selected grade and subject or course.

State Distribution of Teachers

The table on the right displays the number of teachers whose evaluation composite index falls within each effectiveness level. The distribution includes all teachers in the district who have an Evaluation Composite, regardless of the tests, subjects, or the number of years included in the composite.