No Child Left Behind and AYP

Under NCLB, Annual Yearly Performance for high schools is determined based on each school’s progress toward meeting the state proficiency level for all students in English, mathematics, and high school graduation rate. Schools are held accountable for the achievement of students of different races and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, students with limited English proficiency and low-income students. Schools must also have an average over two years of 95% of their students participating in State tests. Schools that do not meet their annual targets in any one of these areas for two consecutive years are identified as Schools in Need of Improvement. This designation means the New York City Department of Education must implement a plan to address academic achievement in these schools and ensure that students make adequate yearly progress towards meeting State standards.
While some schools on the list have educational programs that have produced good results for many students, they have not improved achievement sufficiently for other students. In other cases, not enough students participated in state-required tests.
The State Education Department identifies the following five categories of SINI schools, according to the number of years that the school has not made AYP:
(A) Title I School in Need of Improvement – Year 1
(B) Title I School in Need of Improvement – Year 2
(C) Title I Corrective Action School – Year 1
(D) Title I Corrective Action School – Year 2 (Planning for Restructuring)
(E) Title I School in Restructuring
The NYC Department of Education is committed to improving student achievement in these schools, and every effort is being made to provide the highest quality instructional program to best meet the needs of every student. Through the Children First initiative, we are taking programs that have been successful in improving teaching and learning and are expanding them to every public school in New York City. Additional fiscal resources have been provided to SINI schools to support whole school improvement efforts and the implementation of targeted interventions to improve student achievement in identified areas.
We are confident that the proven, research-based interventions and exciting new programs that have been introduced citywide and at the school level will make this school year a successful experience for your child. There are many strategies citywide which may include:
A longer school day with an early morning start;
More classroom time devoted to English and math;
Focused academic interventions for struggling students, including specialized support for English language learners and students with disabilities;
Innovative programs to accelerate student learning for students ready for that challenge;
Expanded availability of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and theme-based programs;
Continued recruitment of highly-qualified and certified teachers to staff our classrooms;
Extended professional development opportunities for all teachers, with a focus on new strategies to help struggling students;
Strategies to increase daily attendance; and Expanded parental involvement programs