'Adequate Yearly Progress' Still In Holding Pattern

MCA scores also are important because they’re used under the federal No Child Left Behind Act to determine whether a school has made “adequate yearly progress." However, the release of this year’s AYP reports are on hold pending the U.S. Department of Education’s ruling on Minnesota’s No Child Left Behind waiver request.

Hopkins has four schools that missed AYP targets in at least one area—, , and elementary schools. Alice Smith and L.H. Tanglen both met the standards last year but must achieve those targets two years in a row to get off AYP status.

Superintendent John Schultz said it’s beyond the district’s ability to comment on what they think the scores mean for AYP until a determination has been made on the waiver requests.

If districts and schools receiving Title I funding fail to meet AYP goals for two or more consecutive years, they are classified as “in need of improvement” and face a battery of potential consequences.

Corrective action may include a complete restructuring of the school, the replacement of school staff or the implementation of a new curriculum.