The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a federal law that requires states to evaluate the performance of every school every year. When a school does not meet state standards for two years in a row, the students at that school are given the option to transfer to another school.
Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is calculated by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) each year for each school. In order to make AYP, a school must meet the following criteria:
- 95% of the total student population and each subgroup* population must take the state test.
- The total school population must meet/exceed annual math and reading assessment targets. Assessments counted include ISAT, PSAE, and IAA.
- All subgroups with at least 45 students must meet math and reading assessment targets or make Safe Harbor**
- School must meet/exceed annual targets for attendance in elementary schools and for graduation in high schools.
*Subgroups include specific categories of students such as students with disabilities, students from major racial and ethnic groups, and English Language Learners.
**Safe Harbor is a way for a school to make AYP for a subgroup by showing improvement in the percent of students that meet state standards in that subgroup from one year to the next.
School Improvement Status
Schools receiving federal funding that do not make AYP for two consecutive years are identified as “schools in need of improvement.” Each year that the school does not meet AYP, the school is moved to the next category of school improvement. At each phase of school improvement, a different intervention is implemented at the school. A list of school improvement categories and the required interventions is below:
|
# Years not making AYPM |
School improvement category |
Required interventions |
| 2 |
Choice |
School choice transfer offered* |
| 3 |
Choice-SES |
School choice transfer and Supplemental Education Services (SES) tutoring* |
| 4 |
Corrective Action |
School choice transfer, SES tutoring, and school implements one of the following:
Extended day/year
Staffing changes
Implement new curriculum
Decreased school-level management authority
Restructure school organization; or
Appoint outside experts to advise school |
| 5 |
Restructuring Planning |
School choice transfer, SES tutoring, and school develops restructuring plan |
| 6 |
Restructuring Implementation |
School choice transfer, SES tutoring, and school implements restructuring plan, which may include:
Replace principal and/or staff
Select outside management agency to operate school
Other major governance change |
*School choice and SES tutoring are provided to students on a priority basis as authorized by NCLB.
Resources
If your child currently attends a select group of elementary or high schools you can apply to transfer to another school. Learn how.
School report cards
For more information on AYP and NCLB school improvement status, you can view your school’s report card on the Illinois State Board of Education 
website.You can also find and compare information about our schools online.