New CCRPI Instrument

Last week, I was able to attend the last informational regarding the new CCRPI measurement tool.  The new tool has combined some of the measurements, and greatly simplified the tool.  The number of indicators will be reduced from 30 to 15 for high schools, from 19 to 11 for middle schools, and from 21 to 11 for elementary schools.  The number of indicators has been reduced and a greater emphasis has been placed on student growth rather than achievement.  While achievement isn't completely absent in the new measure, schools will now be assessed in a way that is more closely aligned with teaching and learning.  The thing that I found interesting were recommendations of the educational policy group that reviewed Georgia's CCRPI submission for ESSA.  One recommendation was for a grade level rating along with the quantified rating out of a hundred.  They felt it would be easier for stakeholders to understand.  They also had a preference for achievement over student growth citing the notion that in the effort to push back against the over emphasis of achievement, that its possible that we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater.  Both of these suggestions seemed a bit odd to me as a simple Letter Grade may be misleading, how much of an A is it? Or, how much below "satisfactory" is a school performing?  Additionally, as an educator, the emphasis for achievement leaves out most children's best interest as those who are above aren't pushed and those below are sometimes pushed too much/unrealistically to the detriment of their learning.  I took advantage of providing feedback to GADOE, hopefully someone is listening.