The Accountability
Progress Report issued by the State of California each year contains all of the elements used to determine Adequate Yearly Progress of schools and districts in the State as directed by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act. The primary goal of the report is to measure, and help to improve, the academic achievement of California’s public school students. The report includes the following information:

State Academic Performance Index (API):

Each school has its own target for growth which is calculated by measuring the STAR California Standards Test (CST) in English/Language Arts, math, science and history/social science in grades 2-11. Also measured is performance in the California Alternate Performance Assessment in grades 2-11; the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE in English/Language Arts for grades 10-11; and the California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6) in grades 3 and 7.

Federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP):

Schools are required to meet common targets of performance set forth in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). These targets increase, almost annually, until 2014 when all schools and districts (called Local Education Agencies, or LEAs) must have 100% of their students performing at least at the proficient level on state tests. Results of the STAR CSTs in English/Language Arts and math in grades 2-8; CAPA in grades 2-8; and the CAHSEE in grade 10 are used to determine Adequate Yearly Progress. The results of the CAT/6 Survey in grades 3 and 7 are not used.

The four criteria used to determine Adequate Yearly Progress include:

• Participation Rate in statewide assessments (STAR, CAHSEE)
• Percent Proficient in statewide assessments (STAR CSTs)
• API Growth
• High School Graduation Rate

Targets must be met by each school/LEA as a whole and by “numerically significant” subgroups. Subgroups are considered numerically significant if they have at least 50 students and comprise at least 15% of the student population of the school/LEA; or have at least 100 students in that subgroup.

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