John L. Winn

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

F. PHILIP HANDY,

DONNA G. CALLAWAY

John L. Winn

M E M O R A N D U M

TO:

District Superintendents

Provisional Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

This year, Florida received approval from the U.S. Department of Education to utilize the

“Provisional AYP” designation for schools that earn “A” or “B” grades under the Florida A+

Plan but miss one or more of the 30 AYP criteria. This new Provisional AYP designation is

important because it blends NCLB’s AYP with our state’s A+ Plan to maintain the focus on all

students reaching proficiency. Through this new designation, your “A” and “B” schools will

continue to be regarded as the high performing schools they are without the perception of a need

for systemic school reform. The focus and attention will be placed on the students that truly

need assistance.

While Florida may use Provisional AYP as a part of its NCLB implementation, there will not be

any additional flexibility accompanying this new designation. The changes that Florida sought

require approvals beyond the allowable amendments to Florida’s plan – of which we have not

been able to secure after two months of negotiations. With the start of the 2005-06 school year,

we must proceed by requiring all Florida Title I schools who received Provisional AYP status to

continue to provide school choice and SES opportunities, as well as any other requirements.

With the goal of all students reaching proficiency, Provisional AYP schools will have three years

to work toward proficiency before the Provisional AYP status expires.

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • WWW.FLDOE.ORG

District Superintendents

August 15, 2005

Like many of you, I am disappointed with the final result of our negotiations. However, I look

forward to the opportunities we may have as we work with USDE toward reauthorization of

NCLB.

Additionally, major shifts, such as the incorporation of learning gains into AYP, may be as close

as the 2006-07 school year—holding promise for truly supporting the incredible progress you are

making each and every year with Florida’s students. As a member of the USDE Growth Model

Working Group, I have had the opportunity to share Florida’s data and proposals for how growth

models may be incorporated into the NCLB AYP calculations. I will continue to keep you

apprised of changes on the horizon as these discussions progress.

I wish you the very best for the start of this school year and look forward to opportunities to visit

and meet with you throughout the year.

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • WWW.FLDOE.ORG