Standards/Performance: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is a fundamental element to the No Child Left Behind Act. It is a year-to-year measurement of student achievement to determine if students in schools and districts are improving their performance relative to the state's annual achievement targets. The ultimate goal is to have all students meeting or exceeding standards in mathematics and reading by 2014.

Additional information regarding Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in Illinois may be found at the Illinois State Board of Education.

Calculation of AYP in Illinois

Beginning in 2003, AYP calculations in Illinois will be based on the following criteria:

• percentage of mathematics and reading scores that meet or exceed standards relative to the state's targeted achievements for the year
• participation rates of students taking the state test, which must meet or exceed 95%
• attendance rates of students in elementary and high schools and the graduation rates of students in high schools, which must meet or exceed state's targets for the year

Assessments to Measure AYP in Illinois

2005 - Reading, mathematics, and science will be the subject areas tested for with reading and mathematics only counting towards the adequate yearly progress score. Reading and mathematics assessments will be administered to students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. Science assessments will be administered to students in grades 4, 7, and 11. Reading and mathematics assessments will be administered to grade 2 students in Title I schools.

2006 - Reading and mathematics assessments will begin to be administered to students each year to grades 3-8 students and will be counted towards AYP.

2007 - The science assessment will begin to be counted towards AYP.