A. The definition of adequate yearly progress
By the year 2000-2001, states must have in place assessments that are aligned to the state standards and that meet other requirements of state and federal law. States are also required to define "adequate yearly progress" of any recipient school or local educational agency toward enabling all students to meet the state's standards, as determined by student performance on the state assessments.
Adequate yearly progress must be defined in a manner that:
is consistent with guidelines established by the Secretary and results in continuous and substantial yearly improvement of each local educational agency and school sufficient to achieve the goal of all children served under this part meeting the state's proficient and advanced levels of performance, particularly economically disadvantaged and limited-English proficient children. (20 U.S.C. § 6322(b)(2)(B)(l), emphasis added).
The definition must be based primarily on results of statewide assessments given at least at three key points. The United States Department of Education's guidelines for implementation of Title I clarify a requirement implicit in the law: schools must enable students to meet the standards by a date certain: within students' school careers.1
1. U.S. Department of Education, Guidance on Standards, Assessments, and Accountability, p. 61 (1997).