About ten percent of spending on primaryand secondary education in the United Statescomes from the federal government.For ten years now, federal lawhas tied this spending to student performance.States have been required to show progressthrough yearly testing.But states say testing tells only part of the storyabout efforts by schools and students to improve.So the Obama administration has eased the limitson states in measuring performance.The western state of Coloradohas a new assessment method.This new measurement toolis called the Colorado Growth Model.The idea is to show academic growth,not just achievement on tests.It combines test scores, family income levels,school size, the ethnicity of the studentand many other factors.Bill Bonk is one of the creators ofthe Colorado Growth Model.BILL BONK: "It's a very fancy calculation. We're very proud of it."The results from schools across the stateare shown online on a graph.The graph shows a school's average scoreon standardized tests as well as its academic growth.Josh Smith is principal of a middle schoolin a network of public charter schoolscalled West Denver Prep.Charter schools are publicly fundedbut not operated the same as traditional public schools.Mr. Smith says he likes to show his students this graphso they can see their school's progress.Many of his students have parents who do not speak English.He likes to play word games with his students,like having them expand their vocabularyby finding another way to say "I'm good."JOSH SMITH: "Good morning, Daisy."STUDENT: "Good morning, Mr. Smith."JOSH SMITH: "How are you this morning?"STUDENT: "Phenomenal."JOSH SMITH: "Phenomenal! I love it."Eighth grader Juan Soltero says games like these,and studying hard, have helped raise his expectations for himself. He says he wants to be an electrical engineer.JUAN SOLTERO: "The teachers, they really want you to learn.They really do love you.They give you support and talk you through things.It's not just about academics.You have to be comfortable in learningso you can just stick it in your head."On average, students enter sixth gradeat West Denver Prep performing below grade level.But three years later,most are outperforming other students across the state.The new assessment method shows that, each year,the average West Denver Prep studentlearns more math than ninety-four percent ofall the students in Colorado.Reading and writing scores also show growth.Josh Smith says perhaps the most important thingthey should learn is to believe in themselves.And that's the VOA Special English Education Report.You can watch a video about West Denver Prepand the Colorado Growth Model at 51voa.com.We also have captioned videos of our reportsat the VOA Learning English channel on YouTube.