MO DVT

Understanding Expected Growth

Expected Growth is denoted by the dotted line in the center of the growth bar. Conceptually, growth is simply the difference between students' expected performance and actual performance. If students maintain their expected performance over time, then the growth measure is zero (or close to zero). Zero represents expected growth. Positive growth measures are evidence that students made more than expected growth, and negative growth measures are evidence that students made less than expected growth.

Expected Growth signifies the minimum amount of academic growth that educators should expect a group of students to make as they move from one grade to the next in a specified subject area. In general, this signifies appropriate, expected academic growth. Simply put, the expectation is that regardless of their expected performance, students served by each LEA or building should at least make enough growth to maintain their achievement relative to other students. This is a reasonable target for educators who serve all types of students.