Understanding the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) Dec. 2014 | Page 3

Student Test Scores
(Predicted and Actual)
Student Test Score (Percentile)

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

Student A Predicted Score

Student A Actual Score

Student B Predicted Score

6th Grade

Student B Actual Score

Note: This table represents a simplified version of how TVAAS scores are calculated.

Table 3

HOW CAN TVAAS DATA BE USED?
Tennessee teachers and school and district leaders can utilize TVAAS data to help improve student learning. Table 4 lists a few examples:

HOW DOES TVAAS
HELP TEACHERS?

Student Support: TVAAS can help teachers have informed conversations with students about their academic strengths and set individual academic goals for the year. Teachers can also identify students in need
of intervention and group students based on their unique strengths and needs, allowing for more effective
differentiation throughout the year.7
Teacher Collaboration: TVAAS data can help school leaders identify highly effective teachers who can
serve as instructional leaders and mentors for new or struggling teachers.
Teacher Distribution: TVAAS data can be used to identify highly effective teachers, as well as determine
the groups of students or subject areas with which specific teachers have the most impact. This information can inform teacher hi ring, distribution, and assignment decisions as districts try to maintain equity
between schools and put their strongest resources where they are needed the most.

How does TVAAS
data help school
and district
leaders?

Student Instructional Interventions: Just like in individual classrooms, TVAAS data can be used in
schools and districts to identify groups of students who are in need of interventions. This information can
inform decisions such as starting an after-school English tutoring program or hiring additional instructional
coaches for a middle school where students are struggling with math.8
Teacher Support Practices: TVAAS data can help schools and districts identify particular teachers or
academic departments that need more support or professional learning opportunities. TVAAS data can
also identify the teachers that are best prepared to lead this professional development or provide mentoring
for their colleagues.9
Table 4

IN WHAT WAYS ARE TENNESSEE SCHOOLS AND
EDUCATORS USING TVAAS?
Norman Smith Elementary School in Middle Tennessee has achieved high
levels of growth over the last three years. If you ask school leaders at Norman
Smith what makes them so successful, one of the things they point to is the
renewed focus on student growth. Using TVAAS and other growth data,
teachers at Norman Smith can set overall growth targets for students that help
build self-confidence.10 Former principal Beth Unfried cites TVAAS and other

growth data as a game changer for students from low-income backgrounds.
She emphasizes, “It’s not always about students making 100 percent on the
test. For some students, going from a 20 percent to a 60 percent is just as
important.”11
Dr. Mike Winstead, Director of Maryville City Schools, spent time working
with school leaders to ensure they know what TVAAS data tell them and how
to use that information to make decisions. School leaders use TVAAS and
other data to ensure teachers are assigned to subjects and grade levels where