The No Child Left Behind Legislation requires states to adopt policies for defining a school’s progress toward meeting the goal of ALL students becoming proficient on the state’s assessments by the year 2013-2014. Each state was required to submit a draft of its proposal at the end of January. Between now and May 1, 2003, the State will more fully define the model and make revisions as needed to assure compliance with the statutes, but also to communicate clearly with schools the expectations of the system.
The Arkansas proposal is based on the tenets of the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program (ACTAAP), which State Board of Education adopted in 2000. The document that is attached is structured to meet the guidance for preparing the Adequate Yearly Progress definition as provided by the U.S. Department of Education. The reader should clearly know that this is an initial draft and that there are components of this model that need further definition. It is the Department’s intent to submit this draft for review and to invite questions or comments based on the information provided.
Direct comments to Dr. Charles Watson via e-mail: cwatson@arkedu.k12.ar.us or to Janinne Riggs: jriggs@arkedu.k12.ar.us.