Supporting Effective Teaching in Tennessee: Executive Summary | Page 19

Data Systems
The development and use of data systems
play a critical role in improving the quality
of education for students. Statewide
longitudinal data systems can enhance a
state’s ability to effectively use, accurately
manage, and analyze education trends and
patterns. In the classroom, longitudinal
data systems can help teachers identify
and address the needs of individual
students.25 While Tennessee has one of
the best longitudinal data systems in
the country, the state’s data system is
grossly underutilized by most teachers,
administrators, and policymakers across
the state.

T VAA S wa s
revo l u tio n a ry at t h e
ti m e it wa s cre ate d
b ec au se it wa s t h e

so that scores can be linked to student
demographic characteristics as well as
a student’s specific teacher and school.
TVAAS follows the progress of individual
students over time, allowing the system
to estimate the effect schooling has on
a student’s academic progress each year.
Value-added scores can also be created
for districts, schools and teachers based
on the achievement gains of the students
for which they are responsible.

f irst va l u e - a d d e d data

Logins per 1,000 students over last 12 months

TVAAS was revolutionary at the time it
was created because it was the first valuesyste m i n t h e co u n try.
added data system in the country. As a
value-added system, TVAAS was able
Created in 1992, the Tennessee Valueto measure how much a student learned
and the effectiveness of individual
Added Assessment System (TVAAS)
districts, schools, and teachers regardless
collects annual achievement data for
of the students’ initial level of achievemen B