No Child Left Behind / Adequate Yearly Progress
Measuring AYP for Public Schools in Illinois
The
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires all states to measure
each public school's and district's achievement and establish annual
achievement targets for the state.
The overarching goal is for all students to meet or exceed standards in reading and mathematics by 2014.
Each year, the state will calculate a school or district's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) to determine if students are improving their performance based on the established annual targets. Through links on this website, you can review the federal law and regulations regarding AYP.
About Illinois' AYP Accountability Plan
In July of 2003, the U.S. Department of Education approved Illinois' plan for aligning state accountability processes with the new federal law. The plan was developed through consultation with a broad-based task force of education, business, parent and civic representatives.
In August of 2003, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law two statutes modifying the School Code to conform with NCLB. One modifies the state testing system (PA 93-0426); the other modifies the state's Academic Early Warning and Watch List processes (PA 93-0470).
State law (PA 93-0470) now defines consequences for all schools that fail to meet AYP criteria for consecutive years. Title I schools and districts are subject to additional consequences including school choice, Supplemental Educational Services, corrective action and restructuring.
The plan has been updated in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Response
from USDE approving flexibility (May 2007) 
