SACRAMENTO — More than 60 percent of California schools improved their 2003-04 Academic Performance Index (API) scores, leading to an overall 10-point growth in statewide API scores this year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today. More than 60 percent of schools also successfully met their 2004 federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmarks.

"I am encouraged that student achievement in more than half our schools continues to be on the rise," O'Connell said. "However, the percentage of schools reporting API growth was a decline from the record high of 90 percent posted last year, and that is in keeping with the mixed statewide test results reported earlier this month."

This year, 64 percent of California schools showed improvement on their API compared to about 90 percent last year.

The 2004 Accountability Progress Report can be found at: AYP Reports and Data Files - Adequate Yearly Progress.

"Over the past six years, growth in student achievement has reflected a focus on high standards that has helped thousands of students reach higher levels. This year's relatively flat test results and corresponding slowing of schools' growth on the API indicates that we need to rededicate ourselves and refocus our efforts on those reforms that have been so successful at so many of our schools."

One of the factors that contributed to the growth of API scores statewide was a reduction in the percentage of students scoring far below basic on statewide assessments, especially in mathematics. The far below basic performance category represents the lowest level of performance on the rigorous California Standards Tests.

"The API system was designed to recognize schools that focus on the instructional needs of students who are struggling the most," O'Connell said. "It is heartening to see students moving out of the lowest performance level, and schools getting credit for the hard work of improving the achievement of their most challenging students."

This year, 64 percent of California schools met the federal AYP criteria compared to 54 percent last year. A major factor leading to the improved results appears to be a dramatic increase in the number of students participating in the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). In 2003, 35 percent of all large high schools failed to make AYP based solely on participant rate. In 2004, only 14 percent fell short simply because of participation.

"I continue to believe that our state accountability model provides a clearer and more accurate picture of how our schools are doing," O'Connell said.

Unlike the API, which reflects growth in student achievement from one year to the next, the AYP measurement reflects simply whether a school and all of its significant subgroups of students met a single benchmark for achievement in a single year. A school not meeting AYP may have fallen far short in every category, or miss the mark narrowly by failing one of many criteria measured. In both cases, however, the designation of "not meeting AYP" is the same.

"The fact that 317 of our schools grew 30 points or more, yet failed to make the federal benchmark, illustrates why I believe a growth model of accountability such as we have here in California more accurately reflects actually student learning," O'Connell said.

This is the first year that the California Department of Education is releasing 2003-04 API growth results (for school and local education agency levels only) in conjunction with the 2004 AYP results. The federal No Child Left Behind regulations mandate that schools be notified of their AYP standing prior to the start of the traditional school year so that those in Program Improvement (PI) may begin implementing as early as possible those required services, such as allowing children in underachieving schools to relocate. API growth is one of the elements that determine whether a school makes it over the AYP status bar.

The complete 2003-04 API growth results, including subgroups (which are not a part of this report), and targets will be released October 21, and PI status will be released on October 13.