In 2002, Battelle for Kids launched Project SOAR—a statewide pilot that provided value-added analysis and professional development to 42 diverse school districts across Ohio.

The pilot’s purpose was to introduce value-added analysis to participating school districts to demonstrate how progress information can be used as a diagnostic tool for educational improvement. The centerpiece was a secure Web site that educators used to view district, building, grade and student-level performance data, including reports in science, social studies, reading and math for grades 3-8.

Responding to demands for higher expectations and results in education, SOAR expanded its scope of services to become a comprehensive school improvement collaborative offering an array of services and benefits. Today, nearly 100 districts participate in SOAR, representing more than 20 percent of the state's students in grades 3-8.