MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/DE8BDD12/NCLBNotificationLetter.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" March 4, 2005

No Child Left Behind Parent Notification Letter

 

Fall 2005

 

 

Dear Parent:

In accordance with the No Child Left Behi= nd Act of 2001 (NCLB), states must provide notification to parents of stud= ents in districts that are identified for improvement because the district did n= ot make adequate yearly progress.  This communication acts as the notification to meet this federal requirement.  Please note that as of this writin= g, some of the criteria listed in this notification is under review and some modifications may be made based on federal changes to= the law.

 

The Illinois State Board = of Education has asked your superintendent to distribute this letter and data = to you.  The data identifies why = a district may not make adequate yearly progress (AYP).  Under NCLB and state law, for a di= strict to make AYP:

(i)  47.5% of the district’s stud= ents (as a whole, and for certain subgroups) must exceed the state’s targe= ts in math and reading on state assessments;

(ii) 95% of the district= 217;s students (as a whole, and for certain subgroups) must participate in state assessments for mathematics and reading; and

(iii) t= he district’s students (as a whole, and for certain subgroups) must meet= an 89% attendance rate for grade schools and a 66% graduation rate for high school.

 

If a district does not ma= ke AYP for two consecutive years, it is deemed to be in “improvement status” and certain state and federal sanctions apply.  Two consecutive years of meeting A= YP criteria are required for a district to be removed from “improvement status.”

 

While AYP is an important= measure of student learning, it is important to remember that a district that does = not make AYP should never be considered a “failing” district.  Teaching and learning is an ongoing process that changes constantly to meet the unique needs of students and communities.  One of the most important goals of NCLB is to identify areas in each district and school wh= ere improvement is needed.

 

At the State Board, we fe= el it is important for educators, parents and communities to work together to address those areas of need.  Parents = can assist districts in the improvement process by participating in improvement planning with the district and participating with local school improvement planning.  If you are interest= ed in helping your district in the improvement process, please contact your local school principal or superintendent.

 

Sincerely,

 

Donna J. Luallen

Division Administrator

Accountability Division