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ASD schools improve NCLB Adequate Yearly Progress ratings; 66% make AYP

August 12, 2005

Contact: Carol Comeau
Superintendent, ASD
Phone: 907-742-4312
Fax: 907-742-4318
E-mail: comeau_carol@asdk12.org

Sixty-six percent of Anchorage School District schools made Adequate Yearly Progress this year as defined by state and federal education regulations, compared to 58 percent last year and 40 percent two years ago, according to data released today by the school district and the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

"Adequate Yearly Progress ratings are part of the accountability measures built in to the federal education regulations, and we are proud today to show our community that our school district continues to make gains and that the increasing majority of our schools are passing this accountability measure," said Superintendent Carol Comeau. "This improvement was made possible by dedicated staff efforts, detailed improvement plans that were developed and followed at every single school, intense and well-crafted focus on reading and math skills, and strong instructional leadership. I cannot commend enough our outstanding teachers, principals and staff, and our students themselves."

AYP: accountability in education

AYP is an accountability system within the federal education act, No Child Left Behind. Under No Child Left Behind, all schools must show annual progress toward achieving academic proficiency for 100 percent of their students by 2014. Proficiency means that a student is at or above grade level in the particular subject area. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, in compliance with NCLB regulations, established annual proficiency rates that schools must achieve to reach the goal.

AYP measures students' academic performance in language arts and math, level of participation on mandated tests, and attendance and graduation rates against a set of standards. A school is judged by the performance of its students as a whole and in each of nine categories of students within the school. In all there are 31 standards a school must pass in order to make AYP. Schools that miss any of the 31 standards are judged as not making AYP.

Schools that do not make AYP must inform parents of the school’s results and create detailed school improvement plans which must be reviewed and approved by Superintendent Comeau. Schools that receive federal Title I funding, given to schools with large numbers of students from low socio-economic backgrounds, are faced with more severe consequences after repeatedly missing AYP, ranging from offering parents a choice of transferring students to other schools all the way up to a complete restructuring of the staff, operation and format of the school.

ASD Title I school performance “remarkable”

ASD has 21 Title I schools. This year 17 made AYP, compared to seven in 2004 and just three in 2003.

“Our overall Title I performance is just remarkable,” said Comeau. “These are schools with very challenging situations: high numbers of students with limited English skills, extreme mobility and transience of students and families, and vast numbers of students from families struggling economically. To rise from just three schools making AYP three years ago to 17 making it this year is truly commendable. I applaud the commitment and dedication of our teachers, support staff and principals in these schools.”

AYP is just one of many measures of success

While pleased with this year’s results, Comeau cautions that AYP ratings are not the only measure of a school’s successes and challenges

“As valuable as it is for educators and parents, no one should rely on it as the only measurement of a school's performance. I encourage parents to meet with their children’s teachers and prin

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