This is to provide notification that the US Department of Education has approved the following two amendments to the Arkansas Department of Education’s (ADE) Workbook for Determining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
1. Establish a Separate Subgroup for Displaced Students
A separate subgroup for displaced students will be established. This subgroup will include students relocated to the state due to Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita. Students relocated because of the hurricanes will participate in the state assessment program and count toward the 95% requirement. The students will only appear in this subgroup for No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reporting and accountability purposes and not in any other subgroup in which the students would usually belong.
Districts will be required to have in place an academic improvement plan for all displaced students scoring below proficient. Districts will be required to report to the ADE the number of displaced students enrolled in an academic improvement plan.
2. Calculating AYP Annual Expected Performance Levels
With the administration of the 2004-2005 assessments, all grades 3-8, end-of-course algebra 1 and geometry and grade 11 literacy were included in the assessment system. New annual measurable objectives have been determined based on the inclusion of all tested grades, end-of-course exams and grade 11 literacy.
The new matrix can be found at the end of the attached Workbook for Determining Adequate Yearly Progress.