COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
May 22, 2009
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction
On May 1, 2009, the United States Department of Education approved Virginia’s request to amend its state accountability plan under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This approval will permit Virginia schools and school divisions to continue to use the two percent transition flexibility for the inclusion of students with disabilities in the calculation of AYP for 2009-2010. AYP calculations for 2009-2010 are based on state assessments administered in the 2008-2009 school year.
Under the two percent transition flexibility, if a school or school division misses AYP solely on the basis of the students with disabilities sub-group, a proxy that is equivalent to 2.0 percent of all students in the assessed grade will be added to the actual percentage of students with disabilities in the school or school division who were proficient or above. The Virginia Department of Education will use this adjusted percent proficient to re-examine whether the school or school division made AYP for the 2008-2009 school year. Please note, however, that the actual percentage of students with disabilities who score proficient or advanced will be reported to parents and the public on the school report card.
Questions regarding the use of the 2% proxy should be directed to the student assessment staff by e-mail at student_assessment@doe.virginia.gov, or by telephone at (804) 225-2102. Questions regarding the use of the 2% proxy in AYP calculations should be directed to the Office of Information Management by e-mail at resultshelp@doe.virginia.gov or by calling (804) 786-3112 (option #4).
PIW / SLR / SS / cb