The information below explains how Program Improvement (PI) determinations are made using two years of data for schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive Title I funds. More information about accountability requirements under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, including California's definition of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and identification for PI, can be found in the 2007 Adequate Yearly Progress Report Information Guide http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ay/documents/infoguide07.pdf (PDF; 1289KB; 86pp.).
Identification for Program Improvement
In prior years, identifying schools for PI differed according to the type of Title I program the school was operating: targeted assistance (TAS) or schoolwide program (SWP). Beginning with the 2006 AYP, the United States Department of Education (ED) approved California's request to eliminate the distinction between TAS and SWP schools in PI "identification." All schools will be identified for PI using the same criteria. Identifying Title I schools for PI is different from identifying Title I LEAs for PI. In March 2004 the State Board of Education approved the criteria for identifying Title I LEAs for PI. Title I LEAs were first identified for PI in 2004-05.
Title I School
A Title I school will be identified for PI when, for each of two consecutive years, the Title I school does not make AYP in the same content area (English-language arts or mathematics) schoolwide or for any numerically significant subgroup, or on the same indicator (Academic Performance Index [API] or high school graduation rate) schoolwide.
Title I LEA
A Title I LEA will be identified for PI when, for each of two consecutive years, the LEA does not make AYP in the same content area (English-language arts or mathematics) LEA-wide or for any numerically significant subgroup, and does not meet AYP criteria in the same content area in each grade span (grades 2-5, grades 6-8, and grade 10), or does not make AYP on the same indicator (API or graduation rate) LEA-wide.
Program Improvement Status
Entering PI
A school or LEA that does not meet specific indicators described above for two consecutive years will enter PI in 2007-08.
Advancing in PI
A school or LEA that was in PI during 2006-07 and does not make AYP in 2007 will advance to the next level of PI for 2007-08 and be required to immediately implement the applicable NCLB requirements.
Maintaining PI Status
A school or LEA that was in PI during 2006-07 and makes AYP in 2007 will not advance in PI, but will maintain the same PI status for 2007-08. This school or LEA will be required to continue implementing the applicable NCLB requirements.
Exiting from PI
A school or LEA in PI that makes AYP for two consecutive years will exit from PI in 2006-07.
Program Improvement Requirements
All schools and LEAs that do not make AYP are identified for PI under NCLB. More information about Program Improvement requirements may be found at Program Improvement http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ti/programimprov.asp.
