The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law has a very laudable goal – 100 percent of American students passing standardized tests in reading and math by the year 2014. Along the way to that goal, schools and districts must make progress, marked as “Adequate Yearly Progress” or AYP. This seemingly simple concept is not quite so simple in the execution. It also sounds pretty straightforward: a school or district either makes it or it does not. The reality is much more complex.

Schools are expected to increase the percentage of students meeting the standard on state reading and math tests each year at specific grade levels. Each of eight subgroups of students must also meet the standard. Those subgroups are five major racial/ethnic groups, students with disabilities, English Language Learners and low-income students. If the percentage of students in any one subgroup performing at standard on the test does not meet the requirement, then the school does not make AYP even if the whole school on average is doing very well. High schools are also judged on graduation/dropout rates. Middle schools and elementary schools are judged on unexcused absence rates.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has a very informative website that explains in detail how AYP is determined and what happens if it is not met.

AYP and Title I Schools

The first year that a school does not make AYP is essentially a warning year: there are no consequences. If the school does not make AYP two years in a row, then they are deemed to be “In Improvement.” This status has specific consequences for schools that have a high level of low-income students and as a result receive federal Title I funding. For other schools, there are no specific consequences beyond having the label. However, all schools in Lake Washington School District work on a Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) Plan. The data that is required to determine AYP status helps schools learn where to focus improvement efforts.

Parents of students in Title I schools also have the right to request information on the professional qualifications of their children’s classroom teacher and instructional assistants. If you are the parent of a student in a Title I school, simply make the request to the principal. In addition, if your child is assigned to or taught by a teacher who does not meet the standards to be “highly qualified” for four or more consecutive weeks, you will be notified.

The schools in Lake Washington School District that receive federal Title I funding are:

• Einstein Elementary School
• Muir Elementary School
• Redmond Elementary School
• Rose Hill Elementary School

In Improvement

In 2011-12, four schools in Lake Washington School District are In Improvement and receive Title I funds: Einstein Elementary, Muir Elementary, Redmond Elementary and Rose Hill Elementary.

Redmond and Rose Hill Elementary Schools are in Step I of Improvement. These schools must offer families the opportunity to transfer their student to another school in the same district that is not identified for school improvement, known as Public School Choice. Transportation is provided for students from these schools whose families wish to take advantage of Public School Choice. The school must also revise its school improvement plan.

Muir Elementary is in Step II of Improvement. This school must continue to offer public school choice and must continue school improvement planning. It must also provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) to low-achieving students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch. 

Einstein Elementary is in Step III of Improvement. This school must continue to offer public school choice and must continue school improvement planning. It must also provide Supplemental Educational Services (SES) to low-achieving students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch. The district must also select at least one of the following and identify what the district will be doing.

• Make curriculum and instruction changes to improve student learning;
• Appoint outside experts to work to advise the school on revising and implementing the school plan; or
• Extend the school year or school day.

Einstein Elementary School and the Lake Washington School District are working collaboratively on the following: 

• Providing extended before school classes in the areas of ELL (grades K and 4-6) and reading (grade 3) taught by highly qualified certificated staff
• Providing extended after school classes in the area of math (grades 4-6) taught by highly qualified certificated staff
• Providing an extended school year experience for students below standard in reading and math through our various summer school programs in grades K-6 taught by highly qualified certificated staff
• Providing a Guided Reading experience for all students at their independent reading level
• Providing Math Skills groups for all students at their individual math performance level
• Providing intensive professional development for staff through a partnership with the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership

Schools offered as choice options for the 2011-2012 school year are Juanita Elementary, Kirk Elementary, Mann Elementary, Rockwell Elementary, Rush Elementary, Thoreau Elementary, and Wilder Elementary.

The chart below provides eligibility and participation data for Public School Choice and Supplemental Education Services.

A list of approved SES providers for parents of Muir and Einstein students to review is available here.