FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 04.23.08

Contacts:
Stephen Wakefield , Discovery Education
240-662-2893
stephen_wakefield@discovery.com

Charlene Blohm, C. Blohm & Associates
608-839-9800
charlene@cblohm.com
Melanie Moran, Vanderbilt University
(615) 322-NEWS
melanie.moran@vanderbilt.edu

Vanderbilt University and Discovery Education Partner to Offer New Research-Based Evaluation of School Leaders

VAL-ED measures leadership behaviors associated with student achievement

Silver Spring, MD (April 23, 2008) – Discovery Education and Vanderbilt University are partnering to launch a new research-based evaluation tool measuring the effectiveness of principals. The Vanderbilt Assessment of Leadership in Education (VAL-ED), which is being exclusively distributed by Discovery Education, was created at Vanderbilt University through a grant from the Wallace Foundation. Rigorously tested and proven in the field, VAL-ED offers a 360-degree evaluation of areas related to student achievement and leadership.

According to Camilla Benbow, the Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development, “We are delighted to collaborate with Discovery Education on the development and distribution of this new service. VAL-ED builds a picture of principal effectiveness by providing a detailed assessment of a principal’s perceived performance. This assessment empowers administrators to effectively evaluate staff, diagnose strengths and weaknesses, and recommend pertinent professional development.”

VAL-ED was developed by Peabody faculty Joseph Murphy, Ellen Goldring and Stephen Elliott, and the dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, Andrew Porter, to provide detailed, evidence-based assessment of principals’ performance. It has been tested at more than 300 schools nationwide and is aligned with the national leadership standards set by the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium.

VAL-ED assesses principals in six core components related to student learning, including high standards, rigorous curriculum and performance accountability. Six additional evaluation areas of key processes measure leadership skills such as planning, advocating and communicating.

“VAL-ED is a clear improvem ent over previous evaluation instruments,” explained Discovery Education Assessment Director, William Dycus, Ed.D. “Many school districts have created various instruments to measure the performance of principals, but few have been as meticulously researched and rigorously tested. By providing accurate and reliable data, VAL-ED aids administrators in making decisions that impact student achievement.”

Field tested in 100 elementary schools, 100 middle schools and 100 high schools in 53 districts in 27 states, VAL-ED shows how a principal’s performance compares with their peers nationwide, and determines if a principal is performing at a “basic,” “proficient,” or “distinguished” level. The VAL-ED assessment can be completed in 20-25 minutes, in either online or pencil and paper formats. It can be used annually to facilitate a data-based performance evaluation, or it can be used more frequently to measure performance growth or provide principals ongoing feedback throughout t he school year.

To provide the 360-degree perspective on performance, teachers, the principal and the principal’s supervisor complete the evaluation. The actual assessment instrument is composed of 72 questions, in which each respondent is asked to evaluate the principal’s performance on 72 behaviors. Respondents rate performance on a scale from 1 for “ineffective” to 5 for “outstandingly effective” after considering data on which the evaluation is based, such as school documents or personal evaluation.

For more information on VAL-ED or any other Discovery Education assessment products and services, please visit www.discoveryeducation.com/val-ed or call 866-814-6685.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Communications revolutionized television with the Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the #1 non-fiction me dia company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.