COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 177
August 8, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
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TO:
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Division
Superintendents
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FROM:
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Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.
Superintendent
of Public Instruction
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SUBJECT:
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Guidelines
for Determining the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) of Small n Schools
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As
approved by the United States Department of Education for the calculation of
adequate yearly progress (AYP) for the 2008-2009 school year (based on
assessments administered in 2007-2008), Virginia will use 50 or 1 percent
(capped at 200) of the enrolled student population, whichever is greater, as
the minimum n for purposes of calculating AYP and applying the 95 percent
participation rate requirement at the state, division, and school levels.
Virginia uses the three most recent years of
statewide assessment data to automatically calculate the pass rate to determine
if a small n school met the Annual Measurable Objectives. A small n school that meets the Annual Measurable
Objectives in reading and mathematics using this method will make AYP. A school that does not make AYP by using this
method will be declared To Be Determined (TBD) on the reports provided to
school divisions.
Schools labeled TBD may submit a body of evidence to their school division for
consideration. Based on the evidence
submitted, the school division will make an AYP determination for the school
and forward that decision, with an explanation for its basis, to the Department
of Education filed by the division
superintendent within 15 business days of the school receiving official notice
of its AYP accountability decision or no later than September 26, 2008, for validation and inclusion in
statewide data reports. The Department
will consider the school division's recommendation for the AYP status of Title
I schools, but ultimately it will make the final decision for Title I
schools. If no evidence is submitted to
the Department on behalf of a school by September 26, 2008, that school will
not make AYP.
Attachment A
contains guidelines that school divisions should follow in determining the AYP
status for its small n schools, along with a form to submit the AYP
determination to the Department of Education.
If you have
questions or need additional information, please contact Becky Marable, reports
and grants manager, by e-mail at Rebecca.Marable@doe.virginia.gov
or at (804)371-0044.
BKCJr/RLM
Attachment
a. Guidelines
for Determining AYP Status for Small n Schools (Word)