Value-Added Model

Definition: A value-added model is a growth model capable of differentiating the influence of factors of interest, e.g., schools, teachers, demographics, programs, etc.

What This Means: Without being able to evaluate the influence of factors of interest, a model is merely a growth model. Value-added models level the playing field, compensate for factors out of the control of the student, even out the challenges different teachers face with the group of students in their classes—generally, they make things “fair.” Although some value-added models are very simple (i.e., group schools into broad categories by percent economically disadvantaged students), others require sophisticated statistical software applications to calculate complex formulas.

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