Holding schools accountable for the performance of all students is a cornerstone of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Under the new law, this accountability is based on whether or not schools, districts and states are making adequate yearly progress (AYP) towards the goal of bringing 100% of their students at least to academic proficiency by the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Progress in reading/language arts and in mathematics must be shown for all student subgroups, including economically disadvantaged students, limited English proficiency students, students with disabilities, and students in major racial and ethnic groups. Performance on reading and math assessments is the main indicator of whether AYP is being met, but graduation rates and at least one additional indicator for elementary schools (decided on by the state) also must be included.

The link(s) above show what is currently available in this section of the NCLB Issue Site.

Please check the Special Populations section for information on student subgroups, such as English language learners and students with disabilities.

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