The requirements for Title I schools that do not make Adequate Yearly Progress in English language arts or mathematics depend on the number of years for which the school has not made AYP. The requirements are designed to give Title I schools an opportunity to improve their programs, with assistance from the school district and outside experts if the district determines that they are needed. If a Title I school continues not to make AYP, the district is required to take specific actions to improve student academic achievement in the school.

At the same time as the improvement efforts are undertaken, students attending schools that do not make AYP in English language arts or mathematics are given other educational options. These options vary depending on the number of years the school has failed to make AYP. 

The specific requirements for Title I schools that do not make AYP in English language arts or mathematics are as follows:

Schools Not Making AYP for One Year. Because a school's MEAP results can change from year to year for many reasons, a school that does not make AYP for one year is given a second year to demonstrate that it can make AYP.

There are no actions that the school or school district must take because a school has not made AYP for one year.

Schools Not Making AYP for Two Years. A Title I school that does not make AYP for two consecutive years is identified for improvement and must take the following steps to improve student academic achievement:

• Develop a two-year school improvement plan in consultation with parents, school district staff, and any outside expert who is providing assistance.
• Submit the plan to the district for peer review and district approval.
• Implement the improvement plan by the beginning of the school year following the year the school was identified.
• Spend at least 10 percent of its Title I allocation each year for the next two years on professional development that directly addresses the achievement problems that  caused it to be identified.

When a Title I school is identified for improvement, the school district must also do the following:

• Offer students who are enrolled in the school the option to transfer to other schools in the district that are not identified for improvement, on a space-available basis.
• Provide or pay for transportation for students who choose the transfer option, within certain cost limits.
• Give priority to the lowest-achieving students from low-income families if there is not enough space available in non-identified schools or funds to cover transportation costs.
  
  *Districts with Title I schools identified for improvement must spend an amount equal to 20 percent of their Title I allocations for transportation and supplemental educational services, unless a smaller amount is needed. This includes 5 percent for transportation, 5 percent for supplemental educational services, and the remaining 10 percent for transportation, supplemental educational services, or both. Districts are not required to spend additional funds to meet the transportation requirement.

Schools Not Making AYP for Three Years. A Title I school that does not make AYP for three consecutive years continues to be identified for improvement. The school must continue to implement its revised school improvement plan and spend at least 10 percent of its Title I allocation on professional development to address the academic problems that caused it to be identified. The school district must continue to offer the transfer option and provide or pay for transportation. In addition, the school district must:

• Offer low-income students attending the school the opportunity to receive supplemental educational services outside of the school day.
• Give parents of eligible students the option of choosing among the state-approved providers in the area, on a space-available basis.
• Pay the costs of the supplemental educational services, within certain cost limits.**
• Give priority to the lowest-achieving students if there are not enough funds to cover the costs of supplemental services for all eligible students.

**The maximum cost per student is the amount of Title I funds the district receives per low-income student or the actual cost of the supplemental services, whichever is less. The district maximum cost is an amount equal to 5 percent of its Title I allocation, with another 10 percent available for transportation, supplemental educational services, or both.

Schools Not Making AYP for Four Years. A Title I school that does not make AYP for four consecutive years is identified for corrective action. The school district must continue to offer the transfer option and supplemental educational services. The district must also take at least one of the following actions to improve student academic achievement in the school:

• Replace the school staff who are relevant to the failure to make AYP.
• Implement a new research-based curriculum and provide appropriate professional development for all relevant staff.
• Significantly decrease management authority at the school.
• Appoint an outside expert to advise the school on revising its school improvement plan to address the issues underlying its continued achievement problems.
• Extend the school year or the school day.
• Restructure the internal organization of the school.
  
  The school district is responsible for selecting the action or actions that are most likely to address the school's academic problems that caused it to continue to be identified. The district must notify parents and the public regarding the corrective action(s) it chooses to take.

Schools Not Making AYP for Five Years. A Title I school that does not make AYP for five consecutive years is identified for restructuring. The school district must continue to offer the transfer option and supplemental educational services. The district must also take at least one of the following actions to make fundamental changes in how the school is operated in order to improve student academic achievement:

• Reopen the school as a charter school.
• Replace all or most of the school staff who are relevant to the failure to make AYP.
• Enter into a contract to have an outside organization with a record of effectiveness to operate the school.
• Turn the operation of the school over to the state, if the state agrees.
• Restructure the school's governance arrangement in another way that makes fundamental reforms.

Before taking any action, the school district must notify parents and teachers that the school has been identified for restructuring and give them an opportunity to participate in the development of the restructuring plan.

Status of Identified Schools That Subsequently Make AYP

A Title I school that has been identified for improvement, corrective action or restructuring will have a change in status and the requirements that apply if it succeeds in making AYP. The specific provisions are as follows:

Schools Making AYP for One Year After They Have Been Identified for School Improvement, Corrective Action or Restructuring. If a Title I school makes AYP for one year after it has been identified for school improvement, corrective action or restructuring, the school district may delay taking any additional action for one year. The school district must allow students who had previously chosen the transfer option to continue to attend their new school and must provide or pay for transportation. One year of making AYP is not considered to be an interruption to the number of "consecutive" years a school has not made AYP or the school's resulting status.

Schools Making AYP for Two Consecutive Years After They Have Been Identified for School Improvement, Corrective Action or Restructuring. If a Title I school makes AYP for two consecutive years after it has been identified for school improvement, corrective action or restructuring, it is no longer identified or subject to the requirements for identified schools. The district must allow students who had previously chosen the transfer option to continue to attend their new school until they complete the highest grade level in the school. However, the district is not required to provide or pay for transportation once the student's original school is no longer identified for improvement.