Understanding the Sanctions Implemented by Adequate Yearly Progress

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) developed from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was devised to hold schools accountable for providing students with an appropriate education that is filled with challenging and rewarding experiences. AYP was designed to measure a school’s annual progress. Students in grades third through eight are tested yearly in reading/language arts and math, while students in high school are tested once throughout their four years. The objective of testing children is to determine if they are performing at the state’s standards. Parents receive information yearly regarding the public school their children attend. This information informs the parents how the school is progressing as a whole.
Schools accepting Title I funds must obey the laws set forth by the NCLB and AYP. Schools whom students do not meet the AYP standards face sanctions aimed to help the school improve the next year. Schools that do not meet AYP standards are required to inform their parents. Schools that fail to reach AYP standards two years in a row face harsher sanctions. These schools are labeled as needing improvement and enter level one of AYP. Within three months of notification from the state, schools must develop an improvement plan. Schools that fail to achieve AYP for a third consecutive year must make auxiliary educational services available and penetrate level two of AYP. In addition, are entitled to send their children to a different school within the district. Furthermore, the school district is required to take action if it is determined by the end of the first year of identification the school continues to fail in their attempts of making AYP. At this point the school district is obligated to utilize percentages of Title I money in certain areas. Level three of AYP consists of a school not achieving AYP standards over a four year period. Level three requires the school to identify a corrective action plan. These actions can encompass the replacement of school staff, implementation of a new curriculum, utilization of outside experts, extended school year/school day, and/or restructure of the internal organization of the school. AYP sanctions continue to affect schools who fail for a fifth year. AYP level four is considered the restructuring statute. The restructuring statute occurs during the fifth year whereupon the district faces sanctions that could include the state making plans to take over the school. At this point the school may open as a public charter school instead of a public school. Finally, by the six year schools continue to implement a new restructuring plan.
The goal in AYP is not to complicate the educational system, but to improve the system so every school operates as an excelling institution. While NCLB and AYP receive immense criticism, the main concept remains. Constructive criticism is imperative for improvement. Educators need to remember NCLB and AYP are designed to benefit the future citizens of America.
Resources
Dr. Dugan’s class lesson
http://dpi.wi.gov/esea/doc/sanctions-schools.doc http://www.ncpie.org/nclbaction/ayp.html