COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 160
August 6, 2004
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Guidelines
for Determining the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) of Small n Schools |
In Virginia,
small n schools have been defined as those that have fewer than 50 students
enrolled in grades or courses for which there are statewide assessments. The U.S. Department of Education has
approved Virginias use of 50 as the minimum number of students for which AYP
can be reliably determined using the criteria required by the law.
Beginning
with the 2004-2005 school year, three years of statewide assessment data will be
used to calculate automatically 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 within 15 business days of the final AYP status announcements, for
validation and inclusion in statewide data reports. The Department of Education will consider the school divisions
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
within 15 business days of the statewide announcement, 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, please contact Ms. Dee Audet, Title I reports
manager, at (804) 786-9935 or daudet@mail.vak12ed.edu.
JLD/LMW/saj
Attachment