Group met measure
   Group met goal using Confidence Interval
   Group met target using Safe Harbor
   Group met target using Safe Harbor with Confidence Interval
   Group met measure using Growth Model
   Group met goal or target using Pennsylvania Performance Index (2008 only)
   Group met goal or target using an Appeal
   Group met measure using Proxy (2009 only)
   Group did not meet measure
   Group met measure using two year data
   Group met measure using two year data with Confidence Interval
   Group met measure using three year data
   Group met measure using three year data with Confidence Interval
-   Fewer than 40 students tested
   Percentage includes two consecutive years of data
   Percentage includes three consecutive years of data

For the Media

Introduction

This website provides specific performance information about each school and district/LEA in the state and describes what AYP results mean for parents and educators. The release of AYP results provides a reason to both celebrate success and stimulate change. The most interesting story may be how schools that are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), or showing significant improvement, actually got there.

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Pennsylvania's unique approach to reporting

It is important that AYP results are presented clearly, so that parents, educators, and the general public can:

  • Recognize the successes of schools.
  • Understand what those schools did to achieve adequate yearly progress.
  • Recognize the improvements in performance represented by significant growth.

The AYP results should prompt educators and parents to engage in their school’s and district’s/LEA's improvement. This online presentation of results is more than just numbers. It should provide a useful diagnosis of problem areas and encourage the development of viable solutions.

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What is AYP?

AYP, or Adequate Yearly Progress, is a key measure of school performance established by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The Pennsylvania Department of Education evaluates all Pennsylvania public schools and district/LEA annually for Adequate Yearly Progress based on the results of the spring PSSA testing cycle and measures of participation, attendance, and graduation.

For a school to meet AYP measures, students in the school must meet goals or targets in three areas: (1) Attendance (for schools that do not have a graduating class) or Graduation (for schools that have a high school graduating class), (2) Academic Performance, and (3) Test Participation. Schools are evaluated for test performance and test participation for all students in the tested grades (3-8 and 11) in the school. Each subgroup represented by 40 or more students in the school must meet graduation and AYP measures. The measurement of success by subgroup, as required by AYP, provides insight toward closing the achievement gap, and measurement against the 41 potential NCLB indicators points out specific areas where schools may need to improve.

District/LEA measures are assessed in three grade spans: Grades 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12. To meet AYP measures in Academic Performance or Test Participation, the district/LEA needs to achieve all goals or targets for both subjects in one grade span only.

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How does the appeals process work?

Preliminary reports on school and district/LEA 2012 AYP status were available as of July 18, 2012. If a school or district/LEA had legitimate questions regarding the accuracy of AYP determinations, they had grounds to file an appeal with the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Schools and districts/LEAs had the opportunity to correct coding errors in the data by updating their PIMS information.

Final determinations on appeals were made prior to the public release of this report. When AYP goals or targets for schools or districts/LEAs have been met by appeal, this is noted in the report.

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How the media can use this site

On this website, you can find detailed information about schools’ and districts’/LEAs’ 2011-12 AYP status and performance. Performance data are available for the school or district/LEA overall and for each measurable subgroup.

Once you have chosen a school or district/LEA, you will see an initial page displaying an overview report of the AYP status for the selected school or district/LEA.

To view more detailed results, the top section of the report has several tabs.

  • The two tabs, For Parents and For Educators provide a clear written summary of AYP results for parents, educators, and administrators. The purpose of these summaries is to provide the community with a realistic view of their schools, and give guidance for improving or maintaining a school’s performance.
  • The Overview tab shows the simple breakdown of results for Attendance, Academic Performance, and Test Participation.
  • The adjacent Performance tab graphically depicts the details of the data—and provides options to view additional information. Users have the option to view last year’s results, this year’s Safe Harbor target for improvement, and next year’s state goal, in addition to the basic information initially presented.
  • The Data Table tab shows the specific values for attendance or graduation rates, percentage of proficient students in Mathematics and Reading, and test participation rates. Also shown is the change in the percentage of proficient students from last year to this year.

To see the state results at a glance, and for downloadable data files, please refer to the State Report page.

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