Glossary

Glossary of Terms

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

AYP is a series of performance goals that every school, school system and the state as a whole must achieve within time frames specified in law in order to meet the 100% Proficiency goal of the federal NO Child Left Behind Act. AYP applies to all public schools, including Title I and non-Title I schools. Non-Title I schools. Non-Title I schools must meet AYP for No Child Left Behind, but they are not subject to the rewards and sanctions under Title I.

To Meet AYP, each school and system must meet the following criteria:

95% Participation: Students as a whole and all student groups above40 students must have a participation rate of 95% or above on state assessments;
Meet or Exceed Proficiency: Students as a whole and each student must meet the State’s annual measurable objective regarding the percentage of students scoring proficient on state assessments.
Additional Indicator: Each school, school district, and the state as a whole must show progress on an additional indicator (with group progress required where “safe harbor” is used).

Schools who do not make AYP….

Number of years	Status	Parent Options
2 consecutive years	Needs Improvement	School Choice
3 consecutive years	Needs Improvement, year 2	School Choice OR Supplemental Services
4 consecutive years	Corrective Status	School Choice OR Supplemental Services
5 consecutive years	Restructuring Status	School Choice OR Supplemental Services

Choice

The Choice option is given to parents to transfer their child from a “Needs Improvement” (NI) Title I school to another school in the district this is not in NI status. Parents may select from a list of schools the school district provides as “receiving schools” that may take transfers.

CRCT

Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCTs) are used in Georgia to measure mastery of the state’s Georgia Performance Standards and results will determine Adequate Yearly Progress for elementary and middle schools. AYP for the upcoming school year will be based on results of the spring administration of the CRCT .

GHSGT

The Georgia High School Graduation Test will be used to determine high school AYP, based on the results of first-time test –takers on the English/Language Arts and Math portions of the test. This is a state-mandated test taken by Georgia’s 11th graders.

ESEA

ESEA stands for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. No Child Left Behind revises this federal legislation governing public schools.

Needs Improvement (NI)

Needs Improvement (NI) status is assigned to schools that do not make Adequate Yearly Progress for two or more consecutive years.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001

This federal legislation authorizes an accountability program for the nation’s schools and reforms in Title I schools. The law went into effect Jan.8, 2002.

Subgroup

A subgroup is one of several groups of students that may be in a school. These subgroups are monitored for academic achievement. Subgroups included: economically disadvantaged, migrants, special education, limited English proficient, and ethnicity (Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, White and Multiracial).

Supplemental Services

Supplemental services are research-based extended-day programs that are proven to increase student achievement. These may include opportunities provided by the school system or by private providers. The services are free, up to limits set by law, to students eligible for free or reduced lunch in schools that have not met AYP for two years.

Title I

Title I provides federal support for schools with high percentages of students from low-income families. The Fulton County School System currently has 54 Title I schools.