Does “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) only depend on a schools academic performance?
A. 6 No. In addition to meeting academic expectations in reading and mathematics, schools must also meet certain other requirements each year if they are to make AYP. For example, it is not enough that students reach each year’s achievement targets in reading and mathematics. At least 95% of all students must be tested each year, and if the number of students falls below 95%, then a school can be declared as not making AYP. In this instance, low rates of test participation can result in not making AYP. Schools can also be designated as not making AYP if their students’ attendance rates are too low, or if they are graduating too few students from high school. Attendance in particular is a vital part of school improvement that is often one of the prime reasons why students either succeed or do poorly in school. With NCLB, however, attendance is as important a factor as the other three. In summary, AYP is based on four factors: test participation, student attendance, graduation rates, and
