Due to a requirement from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) that took effect in 2011, prekindergarten and kindergarten (PK/K) campuses were evaluated for the first time during the 2011-2012 school year. The AYP results are based on a pairing relationship assigned by the district or selected by TEA. School districts are requested to provide campus pairing assignments for PK/K campuses for federal accountability AYP purposes only. For more information, see the 2012 AYP Guide.

5. Where can I find AYP information for a charter school?

Charter schools receive AYP Status reports just like any other school. These reports are located on our AYP website.

6. How are Alternative Education schools evaluated for AYP?

All Title I and non-Title I public school campuses (including alternative education campuses and charter schools) are evaluated for AYP, with the following exceptions:

Districts or campuses that serve students in the grades evaluated for AYP (Grades 3-8 and 10) but have no students in attendance for the full academic year, are not evaluated for AYP. These are identified as Short-Term Campuses. This includes Alternative Education Programs (AEPs) with short-term placements where students are not served for the full academic year at the AEP. Students enrolled on the campus on the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) fall enrollment snapshot date and tested on the same campus are considered served for the full academic year and are included in the performance measure. The snapshot date is defined as the last Friday in October.

7. Is AYP reported for Texas private schools?

No, AYP reports are produced only for Texas public schools. For additional information, you may contact the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission at (903) 643-8770.

8. How do Texas schools compare to schools in other states?

The TEA does not report education data from other states. However, there are several websites that provide reports comparing different states' performance. Among these websites are the National Center for Education Statistics that also includes the Nation's Report Card, the National Education Association that also includes Rankings & Estimates, and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

9a. What were the changes in the Graduation rate calculations for 2010 AYP?

The graduation rate calculations approved by the US Department of Education includes five alternatives for districts and campuses to meet the criteria:

• A statewide 4-year longitudinal Graduation Rate goal of 90.0%
• 4-year Annual Graduation Rate Target of 75%
• 4-year Graduation Rate Alternatives:
  • Safe Harbor Target - a 10.0 percent decrease in difference between the prior year 4-year Graduation Rate and the 90.0 percent statewide goal.
  • Improvement Target - a 1.0 percent increase from the prior year 4-year Graduation Rate
  
  
• 5-year longitudinal Annual Graduation Rate Target of 80%

9b. Does the change in AYP Graduation Rate calculation apply to the Other Indicator and Performance Improvement/Safe Harbor?

Yes, the regulations require the consistent evaluation of graduation rate for the Other Indicator and Performance Improvement/Safe Harbor.

For Reading/English Language Arts and Mathematics, performance measures for all students and each student group must meet either the performance standard or performance improvement/safe harbor. The safe harbor requires 1) a 10 percent decrease from the prior year in percentage of students counted as not proficient in the subject (Reading/English Language Arts or Mathematics), and 2) the relevant other measure requirement for the student group.

The Graduation Rate is the Other Indicator used in AYP for high schools, combined elementary/secondary campuses offering Grade 12, and districts offering Grade 12. Attendance Rate is the Other Indicator for elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, combined elementary/secondary schools not offering Grade 12, and districts not offering Grade 12.

Districts and campuses that require the Graduation Rate as the other measure for Performance Improvement/Safe Harbor must meet or exceed the State's graduation rate goal or annual targets in order to meet AYP. The graduation rate calculations for the annual targets are described above.

9c. When will individual student groups be evaluated for AYP Graduation Rate?

Federal regulations require that 2012 AYP include the evaluation of individual student groups based on the graduation rate calculations shown above. There is no approval required by the US Department of Education in order to implement the federal requirements. Student groups are now evaluated for Graduation Rate beginning with 2012 AYP.

9d. Was there a change in 2010 in minimum size requirements for graduation rate as the other indicator?

Yes. In order to provide a consistent minimum size criteria for the Other Indicator in preparation for the 2012 AYP calculations, the minimum size criteria for Graduation Rate as the Other Measure for Performance Improvement/Safe Harbor has changed. Minimum Size Criteria for Graduation Rate for 2010 AYP is based only on the most current year, the Class of 2009 Total in Class (denominator). The prior year minimum size is no longer required. The minimum size criteria for the most current 4-year graduation rate must be met to determine a) meeting the goal or target on the 4-year rate, b) safe harbor target on the 4-year rate, c) improvement on the 4-year rate and d) meeting the target on the 5-year rate.

9e. Has there been a change in the LEP Student Group graduation rate definition?

Proposed changes to the LEP student group graduation rate definition were approved on July 12, 2010, by the USDE. The AYP LEP student group for graduation rate definition includes the current LEP students plus students formerly identified as LEP at any time while enrolled in grades 9-12 in Texas public schools. The USDE approved change to the LEP student group definition is shown in the July 23, 2010, To the Administrator Addressed letter.

9f. How does one calculate the safe harbor target for the 4-year graduation rate?

Guidance from the US Department of Education offered states the option to establish targets that vary for different schools and districts within a State. The Graduation Rate Alternative Safe Harbor Target requires more improvement for schools with the lowest graduation rates that are the farthest from the State's goal.

Districts and campuses may meet the Graduation Rate Safe Harbor Target if there is a 10.0 percent decrease in difference between the prior year 4-year Graduation Rate and the 90.0 percent statewide goal. For this example calculation, assume the following for our Sample School:

      - Class of 2010 4-year graduation rate = 72.0%
      - Class of 2011 4-year graduation rate = 74.0%

Safe Harbor Target Improvement Required:

90% - 72% graduation rate for the Class of 2010 = 18 percentage points.
18% x 10% decrease (or divided by 10) = 1.8% improvement required.

For the Sample School, 74.0% graduation rate for 2011 minus 72.0% graduation rate for 2010 = 2.0% increase, which does meet or exceed the 1.8% increase required.

For more information on this type of calculation that establishes varying targets for different schools and districts within a State, see page 16 of the US Department of Education NCLB High School Graduation Rate, Non-Regulatory Guidance, December 22, 2008 (Accessible at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/hsgrguidance.pdf).