This memo provides additional information related to several school improvement issues.
1. The minimum number “25”.
In order to be held accountable a subgroup must have more than 25 students. If a sub-group has 25 or fewer students, then the group will not be included in adequate yearly progress (AYP).
2. Non-academic indicators.
In the Accountability Workbook for Determining AYP approved by the United States Department of Education (USDOE) the term standard deviation was used in lieu of standard error. The goal was to employ confidence intervals around the attendance data and the graduation rate with the lower limit of the confidence interval now becoming the threshold to determine adequate progress. The use of confidence intervals is the statistical standard the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) will use; however, until the plan can be modified with approval by the USDOE, the ADE will honor the current language and adopt the use of “one standard deviation below the mean” for the graduation rate and attendance data.
The lower bound for the graduation rate will be 73.9.
The lower bound for attendance will be 91.13.
The changes will be made for each school and recorded on the database. Each school is asked to make the necessary change on the school improvement data report dated October 28, 2003. The revised attendance data and graduation rate adequate progress will be posted on the web site.
Direct questions and requests for additional information to Janinne Riggs at 501-682-4219 or jriggs@arkedu.k12.ar.us.