Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pennsylvania Accountability System?
Pennsylvania developed the Pennsylvania Accountability Plan in compliance with the Federal No Child Left Behind Law, which was enacted in 2002, as a way to measure school improvement and student achievement.
The Pennsylvania Accountability System:
- Applies to all schools and students.
- Is based on Pennsylvania’s standards and content expectations.
- Sets a goal to have 100% of students proficient or above by 2014.
- Uses a valid, reliable assessment system.
- Provides for rewards, assistance and consequences.
How are schools measured?
Schools are evaluated on achievement using the PSSA, participation in those tests, and on attendance (at the elementary/middle school level) and graduation rate (at the high school level). These measurements make up a school’s Adequate Yearly Progress, commonly known as AYP. Using 2001-2002 data as the starting point, Pennsylvania established the following AYP targets for 2008-2010:
- 63% of students proficient or above in reading
- 56% of students proficient or above in math
- 95% student participation in the PSSA
- 90% or improvement in attendance/80% or improvement in graduation
These expectations apply not only to the school or district as a whole, but also to the performance of subgroups, including racial/ethnic categories, low-income students, students with disabilities, and English Language Learners.
Will these targets change?
Yes. School and district targets will gradually become higher:
READING:
2008-2010 – 63% 2011 – 72% 2012 – 81% 2013 – 91% 2014 – 100% MATH:
2008-2010 – 56% 2011 – 67% 2012 – 78% 2013 – 89% 2014 – 100%
What grades are going to be included for accountability purposes?
- SY 2002-03 – Grades 5, 8 and 11 in Reading and Math.
- SY 2005-06 – Grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 in Reading and Math.
- SY 2006-07 and on - Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 in Reading and Math.
How do I know if my school is meeting its AYP?
The state, school districts, and schools will publish the results of the assessments every school year starting in 2002-2003 with the Academic Achievement Report. This report also will be available online at
http://paayp.emetric.net/. The report will list each school and indicate whether it is Meeting AYP Targets, Making Progress, or in School Improvement or Corrective Action.
What happens if a school meets its AYP?
The school will receive rewards and/or recognition after two consecutive years of meeting its targets.
What happens if a school does not meet its AYP?
In the first year of not meeting AYP, a school or district is placed in “warning” status. Warning means that the school fell short of the AYP targets but has another year to achieve them. These schools are not subject to consequences. Rather, they should examine, and where necessary modify, their improvement strategies so they will meet targets next year. If a school does not meet its AYP for two consecutive years, it is designated as needing improvement and is placed in one of the following categories:
If a school does not meet its AYP for two years in a row students will be eligible for school choice, school officials will develop an improvement plan to turn around the school, and the school will receive technical assistance to help it get back on the right track.
If a school or district does not meet its AYP for three years in a row, it must continue to offer public school choice and plan improvements. Additionally, the school or district will need to offer supplemental education services such as tutoring. The district will be responsible for paying for these additional services.
A school or district is categorized in Corrective Action I when it does not meet its AYP for four consecutive years. At this level, schools are eligible for various levels of technical assistance and are subject to escalating consequences (e.g., changes in curriculum, leadership, professional development).
If a school or district does not meet its AYP for five years in a row, it is subject to governance changes such as reconstitution, chartering, and privatization. In the meantime, improvement plans, school choice, and supplemental education services are still required.
What is school choice?
If a school is identified as being in School Improvement, the school/district is required to offer parents the option of sending their child to another public school (including charter schools) within the school district. If no other school within the district is available, a district shall, to the extent practical, enter into a cooperative agreement with another district that will allow students to transfer.
How do parents know if their child is eligible for school choice?
School districts are required to notify parents if their child is eligible for school choice because his or her school has been identified as in School Improvement.
What are Supplemental Education Services (SES)?
If a school or district is identified as being in its second year of School Improvement, the school district is required to offer parents of eligible students the option of requesting supplemental education services, such as tutoring, after-school or summer school.
Who are “eligible” students?
Eligible students are those from low-income families who remain in schools that fail to meet state standards for at least three years. These students are given priority in school choice and supplemental education services.
Are students with limited English proficiency and disabilities going to be tested?
Yes. In order to show AYP, schools must test at least 95% of the various individual student groups, including students with disabilities and those with limited English Proficiency. Accommodations may include reading tests to students or allowing extra time to interpret tests. In the future, the Department will offer native language versions of the assessments for limited English proficient groups numbering 5000 or more.
When is a school no longer considered in need of improvement?
A school exits from the cycle when it meets its targets for two years in a row.
Do all schools start fresh under NCLB?
No. Schools that were given warnings under previous laws that they were not meeting AYP targets and continue to do so will continue in the School Improvement cycle. Schools previously warned who do achieve AYP are considered to be making progress.
Where to go for more information:
Pennsylvania Department of Education,
PDE Home
