COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 55
September 26, 2003
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of
Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Small n Schools Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Submission of Body of Evidence for Adequate Yearly Progress Determinations |
In early September,
schools and school divisions were notified of their Adequate Yearly Progress
(AYP) determinations under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(NCLB). The legislation allows states to establish alternate means
for determining the Adequate Yearly Progress of small n schools. In Virginia, small n schools are defined
as schools having fewer than 50 students enrolled in grades or courses for
which there are statewide assessments. The United States Department of
Education has approved Virginias use of 50 as the minimum number of students
for which AYP status can be reliably determined using the criteria required in
the law.
Small n schools will have their AYP status determined by a body of evidence
designated by the division superintendent. A draft certification form was sent with the AYP notices
earlier this month. On September 17, 2003, the Board of Education approved the Process for Determining Adequate Yearly
Progress for Small n Schools. Immediately following the board
meeting, a Superintendents E-mail was sent announcing the approved process.
Attachment A contains the certification form that school divisions with small
n schools may submit to designate the body of evidence to be
considered.
Division
superintendents should inform the Virginia Department of Education of the
evidence to be used in determining AYP by October 10, 2003. The evidence may be
designated by checking the appropriate boxes in the categories listed on the
form. School divisions need to submit
documentation only if the other option in any category is
selected. The designated or submitted
evidence will be reviewed for the purpose of determining the AYP status for the
school.
If the 2003
certification form identifying the evidence to be considered is not received by
October 10, 2003, the AYP designation for the school will be determined based
on Standards of Learning pass rates in English and mathematics for the last
three years and on attendance and graduation, as appropriate.
Superintendents must
sign in the designated area, and return the form to:
Sandra A. Jackson
Office of Program Administration and
Accountability
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120
FAX: 804-786-9769
If you have questions, please contact Brenda A. Spencer, Title I
specialist, at (804) 371-6201 or by e-mail at mailto:bspencer@mail.vak12ed.edu.
JLD/BAS/saj
/administrators/superintendents_memos/2003/adm055a.pdf