New Pilot Program for Measuring Student Achievement

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced a pilot program where qualified States can submit proposals for developing growth models to meet the accountability requirements of No Child Left Behind. This announcement follows her April announcement "Raising Achievement: A New Path for No Child Left Behind"—a set of common-sense and flexible principles to guide implementation and meet the goals of the law.

As part of this new pilot program, States may propose a growth-based accountability model for determining whether or not schools make Title I annual yearly progress (AYP). Growth models show promise for measuring school accountability while giving schools credit for student improvement over time by tracking individual student progress. Under the pilot program, the U.S. Department of Education will approve up to 10 high-quality growth model applications from States for the 2005-2006 school year. In order to participate, States must meet certain key principles of the law. The pilot program will give the Department of Education the ability to evaluate growth models under No Child Left Behind, and share findings with other States.

For more information about this announcement, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/11/11182005.html.

For information about Secretary Spellings' announcement on a New Path for No Child Left Behind, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2005/04/04072005.html.