Glossary of terms
These terms are some of those commonly used when discussing the various aspects of the Pennsylvania Accountability System. These definitions should help in understanding the details of how schools are evaluated.
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): An individual state’s measure of yearly progress toward achieving state academic standards. “Adequate Yearly Progress” is the minimum level of improvement that states, school districts, and schools must achieve each year.
Assessment: Another word for “test.” Under No Child Left Behind, tests are aligned with academic standards. Beginning in the 2002-03 school year, schools must administer tests in each of three grade spans: grades 3-5, grades 6-9, and grades 10-12 in all schools. Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, tests must be administered every year in grades 3 through 8 in math and reading. Beginning in the 2007-08 school year, science achievement will also be tested.
Corrective Action: When a school or school district does not make yearly progress for four or more consecutive years, the state will place it under a “Corrective Action Plan.” The plan will include resources to improve teaching, administration, or curriculum. If a school or district continues to be identified as in need of improvement, then the state has increased authority to make any necessary, additional changes to ensure improvement.
Disaggregated Data: “Disaggregate” means to separate a whole into its parts. In education, this term means that test results are sorted into groups of students who are economically disadvantaged, from racial and ethnic minority groups, have disabilities, or have limited English fluency. This practice allows parents and teachers to see more than just the average score for their child’s school. Instead, parents and teachers can see how each specific student group is performing.
“Making Progress”: A school identified as making progress is one that was previously in either School Improvement or Corrective Action but has made AYP for one year. If the school fulfills its AYP for a second year, it will exit the improvement system and will be counted among schools meeting AYP targets.
Pennsylvania Performance Index (PPI): PPI measures growth across all levels of the PSSA, not just from Basic to Proficient. This index starts each school and subgroup at its own baseline and is aligned with the federal No Child Left Behind Act as it aims for 100% proficiency by 2014. PPI can be used by schools and districts to demonstrate significant growth, and thereby meet AYP targets. Since this index shows significant growth including growth at the lowest levels, it is a good indication that low performing schools are building a foundation to meet AYP objectives.
Public School Choice: Students in schools identified as needing improvement will have the option to transfer to other public schools in their districts. If no other qualified schools are available, the district may make cooperative arrangements with a neighboring district to handle transfer requests. The original district will be required to provide transportation to transferring students. Priority will be given to low-income students.
Safe Harbor: Safe Harbor status allows a school or district to achieve AYP without meeting the standard achievement targets (54% in reading; 45% in mathematics). These schools qualify under the NCLB “Safe Harbor” provision. If a school or subgroup does not meet the performance targets but does reduce the percentage of below-proficient students by 10% or more, it will be considered to have met AYP. These schools are recognized as having met AYP because such improvement is significant.
School Improvement: Schools or districts are designated as needing school improvement when they do not meet AYP targets for two or three consecutive years. School choice and supplemental education services are offered for schools in School Improvement.
Supplemental Education Services: Students from low-income families who are attending schools identified for a second year as needing improvement will be eligible to receive outside tutoring or academic assistance. Parents can choose the appropriate services for their children from a list of approved providers. The school district will be responsible for purchasing the services.
Warning School: A warning school 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.
