What is the basis for school accountability under NCLB?
All states are expected to help 100% of their students to achieve proficiency in English language arts and math by 2013–14, with specific targets along the way. Each state sets targets, with the approval of the federal government, and chooses what tests to use to determine whether its schools have made “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) toward those proficiency goals. California uses the California Standards Tests (CSTs), which are part of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) tests given each spring, and the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) for high schools. These tests are aligned to the state’s standards, which are what every student is supposed to learn, according to the State Board of Education. Proficiency rates on these tests are just one factor in whether a school makes AYP. Schools must also test at least 95% of their students and either reach a specified level or improve by a specified amount on their graduation rate (high schools only) and Academic Performance
