The No Child Left Behind Act has produced a new jargon and sanctions:

Schools that don’t show “adequate yearly progress,” or AYP, are considered “in need of improvement.” Factors used to determine whether a school made AYP include graduation rates and state assessment scores.

Districts with schools on improvement receive help from the state. However, the state currently is focused on Title I schools, or those that receive federal funding because of the number of students receiving lunches free or at reduced cost.

If a Title I school is on improvement for two consecutive years, then:

• The school and district, with the help of the state, develop an action plan.
• Officials budget 10 percent of Title I federal funds for professional development.
• Parents are notified the school needs improvement and are provided the option of having their child attend a different school. The school district may limit the choices of which schools students may attend.

If schools remain on the “need of improvement” list for three years, further action may be taken, including:

• Implementing new curriculum.
• Replacing school staff.
• Evaluation of the school by outside experts.
• Restructuring the school’s internal organization.
• Extending the school day or school year.

If a school remains on the improvement list after four or five years the school must:

• Reopen as a public charter school; replace school staff; contract with an outside entity; or restructure the school’s governance.

Conversely, if a school on the improvement list makes AYP for two consecutive years, the school is no longer subject to sanctions. By 2006-2007, all schools, even those that aren’t Title I schools, will be subject to the corrections regime.

Districts

Sanctions also apply to school districts if they fail to make adequate progress. If a district fails for four years to meet yearly progress standards, the state must take at least one of the following corrective actions:

• Defer or reduce federal funds for low-income children.
• Implement a new curriculum in the district.
• Remove district staff members who have caused or contributed to the district’s problems.
• Abolish or restructure the school district.
• Allow students to transfer to a better-performing district and require the failing district to provide transportation or pay transportation costs.

States

States unable to make progress over two years receive more technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Education or reduced federal funds.

— Source: Kansas State Department of Education