Superintendent's Memo #292-10
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
December 3, 2010
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives for Title III: Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient & Immigrant Students
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires states to submit for approval to the United States Department of Education (USED) a consolidated state accountability plan. States are permitted to amend the plan by submitting revisions for approval to USED. The accountability plan includes establishing Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) for limited English proficient (LEP) students that measure: 1) progress in learning English, AMAO 1 (progress); and 2) attainment of English proficiency, AMAO 2 (proficiency).
In January 2010, Virginia received approval from USED to set AMAO 2 (proficiency) at 15 percent for 2009-2010. At that time, a request was approved to defer establishing a target for AMAO 1 (progress) until two years of data were available from the administration of the state-approved English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment, Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs®). Data from the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 administrations of the ACCESS for ELLs® assessment have been reviewed by Department staff, and an AMAO 1 (progress) target of 64 percent for school year 2009-2010 was recommended. The Virginia Board of Education approved an AMAO 1 (progress) target of 64 percent for 2009-2010 at its November 18, 2010, meeting. Virginia will now submit an amended Consolidated State Application to USED for approval prior to releasing AMAO results to school divisions.
The attached questions and answers are designed to provide guidance to school divisions on AMAO determinations upon USED's approval of Virginia's proposed targets and Virginia's release of the Title III (ESL) reports.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Judy Radford, ESL coordinator, at the Virginia Department of Education, at (804) 786-1692 or at Judy.Radford@doe.virginia.gov.
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