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The use of value-added models (VAMs) in teacher evaluation systems has increased in prevalence in recent years, with states such as New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, and others basing at least some portion of a teacher's evaluation rating on value-added results (Dee &

When New York state released the first results of the exams under the Common Core State Standards, many wrongly believed that the results showed dramatic declines in student achievement. A closer look at the results showed that student achievement may have increased. Another lesson from the exams is that states need to closely coordinate new data with existing data when they switch to different measuring instruments.

Introduction: Identifying an accurate, user friendly alternative to skinfold calipers may allow for accurate assessment of body composition in more applied settings, such as various training and competition venues.  The purpose of our study was to determine the validity of B-mode ultrasound (BMUS) for body composition assessment by comparing this method to values obtained using air displacement plethysmography (ADP). Methods: Twenty-four active runners underwent two forms of body composition assessment during a single lab visit; ADP and BMUS. ADP body density was estimated using an air displacement chamber in combination with measured lung volume. BMUS body density was estimated from measuring the Jackson-Pollock 7 site skinfolds with a portable, app-based ultrasound device to determine subcutaneous fat thickness. Images were analyzed using proprietary software. Body density values for both methods were converted to body fat percentage using the Siri equation. A paired samples t-test was used to compare values obtained from ADP and BMUS. Results: There was no difference between ADP (18.3 ± 7.3%) and BMUS (17.2 ± 7.6%; p = 0.1) for percent body fat. Conclusions: BMUS provides a valid method for assessing body composition when compared to ADP, thus providing a portable, accurate method for assessing body composition in applied settings.

METHODS: 210 males and females with nearly normal weight (BMI = 23-26 kg/m 2 ) were equally divided into 3 age groups: 1) Young adults 18-34 yo; 2) Middle age adults 35-59 yo; and 3) Older adults 60-88 yo. Body fat % was assessed for each using 4 METHODS: 1) Bioelectrical impedance Inbody 770 (BI) -criterion method; 2) Body mass index (BMI); 3) Abdominal and buttock circumferences (C); and 4) Skinfold (SF). Regression equations were used to calculate body fat % in latter 3 methods. A repeated measures 2-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) with post hoc tests were employed. RESULTS: There were no significant interactions between age group and body fat technique. Collapsed across age groups for males, % body fat was significantly greater in BMI (22.7±5.0) than BI (20.7±7.7), C (21.2±5.8), and SF (16.6±5.7), and significantly greater in C and BI than SK. Collapsed across body fat techniques for males, % body fat was significantly greater in Older adults (24.5±6.1) than Middle age adults (20.0±5.8) and Young adults (16.7±5.2), and greater in Middle age adults than Young adults. Collapsed across age groups for females, % body fat was significantly greater in C (33.1±7.8) and BMI (32.0±5.5) than BI (29.4±9.4) and SF (23.7±5.3), and greater in BI than SK. When collapsed across body fat techniques for females, % body fat was significantly greater in Older adults (34.4±7.9) than Middle age adults (28.0±6.2) and Young adults (25.6.7±7.2), and greater in Middle age adults than Young adults. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the criterion reference BI, body fat % was generally overestimated by C and BMI groups by 1-3% and underestimated by SF group by 4-5%. All 4 methods are practical and reliable ways to assess body fat % in 1 minute or less time and without needing expensive equipment or training, and all 4 methods provided fairly similar results. SK measurements can be taken in as few as 3 sites and skinfold calipers are typically less than $200, C measurements only requires a tape measure, while BMI only requires a weigh scale for weight and tape measure for height. The BI is most expensive