The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) establishes criteria for meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. The ESEA requires that all local educational agencies (LEAs) or schools of the same type meet the same academic targets. AYP targets increase annually until 2014, when all schools and LEAs must have 100 percent of their students performing at the proficient or above level on state tests. By law, all California schools and LEAs receive annual AYP results. Currently, only Title I-funded schools and LEAs face Program Improvement (PI) consequences for not meeting AYP requirements for two consecutive years as required under ESEA Section 1116.
Test Results Used in AYP
The statewide test results used in AYP calculations differ from the results used in Academic Performance Index (API) calculations. AYP calculations are based only on results of statewide tests at grades two through eight and grade ten. The 2012 AYP reports will reflect a school’s performance on the following tests, which are part of California’s 2011–12 statewide testing administration:
- Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program
- California Standards Test (CST) in English-language arts (ELA) (grades two through eight, including a writing component in grades four and seven)
- CST in mathematics (grades two through seven) and Algebra I
- California Modified Assessment (CMA) in ELA (grades three through eight)
- CMA in mathematics (grades three through seven) and Algebra I
- California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) in ELA and mathematics (grades two through eight and grade ten)
- California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) in ELA and mathematics (grade ten)
Federal AYP Performance Targets
Each year, LEAs and schools must meet four sets of requirements to make AYP. The requirements reflect minimum statewide performance levels and are the same for all LEAs and schools of the same type (see the following table). The requirements include: (1) 95 percent student participation rate on statewide tests, (2) percentage of students scoring at the proficient or above level in ELA and mathematics on statewide tests, (3) API criteria, and (4) graduation rate (if LEAs and high schools have grade twelve data). Numerically significant student groups at a LEA or school also must meet participation rate and percent proficient requirements.
Statewide AYP Requirements for 2011–12 School Year
| Type of School or LEA | Participation Rate in ELA and Mathematics |
Percent Proficient in ELA | Percent Proficient in Mathematics | API Growth | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
95% |
78.4% |
79.0% |
740 or 1 Point Growth |
N/A |
(with Grades 9–12) |
95% |
77.8% |
77.4% |
same as above |
90.0% |
(with Grades 2–8 and 9–12) |
95% |
78.0% |
78.2% |
same as above |
same as above |
Student Groups
The 95 percent participation rate and the percent proficient requirements must be met at the school and LEA levels and by each numerically significant student group at the school or LEA in each content area (ELA and mathematics). A “numerically significant student group” is defined as follows:
- Participation Rate
100 or more students enrolled on the first day of testing or 50 or more students, who represent at least 15 percent of the total population, enrolled on the first day of testing - Percent Proficient
100 or more students with valid test scores or 50 or more students with valid test scores who represent at least 15 percent of the total valid test scores
A student group may be considered numerically significant for calculation of the participation rate but not considered numerically significant for calculation of percent proficient. The reverse of this may also occur. What is considered numerically significant is determined separately for each purpose. The determination of a numerically significant student group for participation rate is based on the number of students enrolled in a student group and the number of students enrolled in the school on the first day of testing. The determination of numerically significant for percent proficient calculations is based on scores from students in a student group who were continuously enrolled from Fall Census Day (California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System) to the date of testing.
Student groups include the following categories:
- Black or African American
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Asian
- Filipino
- Hispanic or Latino
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
- White
- Two or More Races
- Socioeconomically Disadvantaged
- English Learners
- Students with Disabilities
Reporting occurs for student groups with at least 11 valid scores, but schools and LEAs are held accountable only for numerically significant student groups. For schools or LEAs with fewer than 100 valid scores, no numerically significant student groups will be reported.