APR: Understanding API, AYP, Etc.

APR can be thought as an "umbrella term" that includes API, AYP, and more. Here are some basics to get you started:

APR

Accountability Progress Reporting

Includes API and AYP

API

Academic Performance Index

State Accountability

AYP

Adequate Yearly Progress

Federal/NCLB Accountability

IIUSP

Immediate Intervention Underperforming Schools Program

Some schools that do not make significant growth (per API) are subject to state intervention

PI

Program Improvement

Consequence for Title I districts and sites not making AYP for a defined amount of time (typically 2 years in a row, but districts have leeway based on grade span performance).

API measures a school’s academic growth. Each school has a school-wide growth target, and each of its numerically significant subgroups has a target, too. These are based on the criteria illustrated above.

An API score is compared to the previous year’s API to measure improvement.

Advanced = 1000 points (125 for a “jump”)

Proficient = 875 points (175 for a “jump”)

Basic = 700 points (200 for a “jump”)

Below Basic = 500 points (300 for a “jump”)

Far Below Basic = 200 points

No API score is ever lower than 200. Also, Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) districts and schools receive API scores but they do not receive API targets.

Elementary API tests are shown above.

Intermediate API tests are shown above.

High school API tests are shown above.

All students as a whole and each subgroup must meet Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) that increase each year (as illustrated above) in both ELA and Mathematics.

See the "What Is a Subgroup?" lesson for details on subgroups.

Schools and LEAs must also meet minimum graduation rate requirements (e.g., 90% in 2010), as well as an "additional indicator" tied to API performance, as illustrated above.

Elementary AYP tests are shown above.

Intermediate AYP tests are shown above.

High school AYP tests are shown above.

Visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/ for a wealth of information guides and reports.

AMO - Annual Measurable Objective, related to AYP

AYP - Adequate Yearly Progress

CAHSEE - California High School Exit Examination (used to determine 10th grade students meeting AYP AMOs for AMAO 3)

CAPA - California Alternate Performance Assessment (alternative to CST for students with severe cognitive disabilities; much easier than CST)

CMA - California Modified Assessment (alternative to CST for qualifying Special Education students; much harder than CAPA but easier than CST)

CST - California Standards Test (for all students who do not qualify for the CAPA or CMA)

ED - Education Department

EL - English Learner (this includes all LEP students, as well as the R-FEP students who have not scored Proficient or Advanced on the ELA CST at least three times - not necessarily consecutive - since reclassification)

ELA - English-Language Arts (tested within the STAR Program for grades 2-11)

LEA - Local Education Agency (in most cases, this is akin to a school district)

NCLB - No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001

SBE - State Board of Education

STAR - Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR Program includes CAPA, CMA, CST, and STS and orchestrates EAP testing)