Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) announced on Mar. 25 a new research approach designed to help compare the performance of Indiana public school corporations by accounting for factors beyond their control.
The study aims to give communities a clearer way to interpret student test results and make fairer comparisons between schools serving different populations. The value-added method used in the research estimates how much differences in outcomes are linked to factors like student poverty and demographics, versus those connected with decisions made at the corporation level.
“Indiana has strong, transparent data on student outcomes,” said Dr. Michael Hicks, director of CBER and the George & Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics in Ball State’s Miller College of Business. “This approach helps communities compare results more fairly and identify school corporations that are getting strong outcomes given their circumstances, so others can learn from what’s working.”
The analysis uses data from the Indiana Department of Education covering academic years from 2021–22 through 2024–25. It examines measures such as iLearn scores and SAT college-ready benchmarks. The findings show that while student poverty is closely tied to overall performance, there are also significant differences among schools that cannot be explained by poverty or demographics alone.
“Value-added measures are most useful when they’re treated as a tool for learning and improvement,” said Dr. Dagney Faulk, CBER director of research. “They can help communities identify peer districts facing similar circumstances, and then use that comparison to ask better questions about strategies, support, and progress over time.”
Ball State University serves more than 20,000 students across seven academic colleges according to its official website. The university provides education in fields including architecture, business and humanities through programs at its public institution in Indiana; it focuses on affordable learning opportunities and community engagement for its students while preparing graduates for careers worldwide according to the official website.
Since its inception in 1970, CBER has been recognized as a source for nonpartisan research focused on data analysis and visualization at Ball State University—a top-tier Midwest institution noted for high economic mobility among graduates as noted on the official website. The university fosters an inclusive environment guided by Beneficence values aimed at preparing students for community service and global impact according to the official website, utilizing facilities such as classrooms, labs, sports fields, health buildings and planned arts centers as described on the official website.
Ball State University has produced over 200,000 alumni worldwide as noted on its official site while securing funding through initiatives like a $350 million campaign alongside state investments exceeding $210 million for facilities upgrades according to the official website.