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For Immediate Release
March 25, 2004
Board Approves Schools in Academic Early Warning and
Academic Watch Status
Springfield, Ill. – The Illinois State Board of
Education Thursday adopted the 2003 Academic Early Warning
and Academic Watch status, recognizing a significant increase
in the number of schools that are not making adequate
yearly progress.
The schools’ status are based on 2003 test data
to indicate school progress and is required by the School
Code and the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
A total of 280 schools are in Academic Early Warning
Status (AEWS), which is down from 664 in 2002. While 22
were removed from AEWS, 286 dropped to the Academic Watch
Status (AWS). The number of schools on Academic Watch
increased from 49 in 2002 to 335 in 2003.
The status of nearly 70 schools is still pending due
to data verification and could be added to either status.
Seven other schools have closed or have been reconfigured.
“We are certainly proud of the 22 schools whose
positive performance removed them from Academic Early
Warning status and the overall decrease in the number
of schools,” said State Superintendent of Education
Robert Schiller. “But at the same time we are greatly
concerned with the increasing number of schools moving
into watch status and we are working to change that.”
Since 1997, ISBE has provided some level of assistance
to districts with schools in Academic Warning and Watch
status. The assistance overlaps with that provided to
Title I schools designated for “School Improvement”
status under NCLB. Currently, services are provided through
the Regional Education Service Providers.
Beginning with 2003 testing, the AYP criteria were revised
to reflect the requirements of NCLB legislation and include
the following:
- Schools must meet the 95% participation rate on state
assessments, in the aggregate and for all subgroups.
- Schools must meet the target of 40% meeting or exceeding
state standards (reading and mathematics only).
- Schools must meet the 88% attendance rate for elementary
and middle schools and a 65% graduation rate for high
schools.
Implications
A school becomes eligible for placement on the Academic
Early Warning Status when they do not make Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years. Schools placed
on Academic Watch are those that have failed to make AYP
for two consecutive years after being placed on Academic
Early Warning (or four annual calculations of missing
AYP). Beginning with initial placement on the Academic
Early Warning Status, schools prepare a School Improvement
plan, or a revised plan for approval by the local school
board.
Schools receiving Title I funding are required to offer
Choice or Supplemental Education Services (SES) by approved
providers. Title I schools entering their fourth year
of Watch Status are designated as being in Corrective
Action and begin planning for restructuring.
The lists can be accessed through the following links:
http://www.isbe.net/pdf/academic_watch.pdf
http://www.isbe.net/pdf/academic_early_warning.pdf
Twenty-two schools have been removed from either list.
This information can be accessed at http://www.isbe.net/pdf/aewl_schools_removed.pdf
More information on the terms and a flow chart of designations
is available at http://www.isbe.net/ayp/default.htm
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