This law is different than federal spending plans in the past because it contains sanctions for schools and districts that don't make the academic progress spelled out by Congress known as "Adequate Yearly Progress".

Adequate Yearly Progress

The law requires schools, school districts and states to show that all students are making "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) toward reading and mathematics achievement goals. By 2014, all public schools must have 100 percent of students meeting the state standards.

The state of Washington has established two ways to measure student achievement in order to meet these annual goals:

1) The Performance of third--fifth*, sixth--eighth*, and tenth-grade students on the yearly Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). (*This is recent change and means that schools are required to make AYP in more catagories than the previous years usings grades four, seven & ten.)

2) The rate of unexcused absences or graduation rate.

If a School or District does not reach these annual goals for two consecutive years, it is designated by the state as being in "School or District Improvement". 

District & Schools in "Improvement"

This year the following schools in the Mount Vernon School District have been designated as in "Improvement" by the state:  Madison Elementary School, Laventure Middle School, Mount Baker Middle School and Mount Vernon High School.  The Mount Vernon School District has also been designated as "In Improvement" by the state. 

The Mount Vernon School District has been identified as not making AYP for the last 4 years.  The Mount Vernon School District did not make AYP in Reading and Math.  The Mount Vernon School District will remain in School Improvement until AYP is made for two consecutive years.
Madison Elementary School has been identified as not making AYP for the last 3 years.  Madison Elementary did not make AYP in Math and Reading.  Madison Elementary will remain in School Improvement until AYP is made for two consecutive years.
LaVenture Middle School has been identified as not making AYP for the last 3 years.  LaVenture Middle School did not make AYP in Reading, and Math.  LaVenture Middle School will remain in School Improvement until AYP is made for two consecutive years.
Mount Baker Middle School has been identified as not making AYP for the last 4 years.  Mount Baker Middle School did not make AYP in Reading & Math.  Mount Baker Middle School will remain in School Improvement until AYP is made for two consecutive years.

Public School Choice

As a result of not making AYP, NCLB states that you have the option to transfer your child to another School, within our District, that has not been identified for School Improvement.  You may exercise this option by contacting:  Susan Davidson at the Title 1 Office, at 360-428-6112 or Beth Ashley, Mount Baker Middle School Principal, at 360-428-6127, or David Scott, Title 1 Director, at 360-428-6110.  Please note:  Although we can transfer your child to a school that is not in improvement, we cannot guarantee a specific school.  Transportation will be provided or paid for by the district.  If you choose to transfer to another school, please know that your transfer will be honored through the highest grade that the school serves.  We understand that you are doing what you feel is best, but you will always be welcome at Madison, LaVenture or Mount Baker and your child may return at any time.

Supplemental Educational Services

If you choose to remain part of our school community, your child may be eligible to receive Supplemental Educational Services.  Supplemental Educational Services refer to extra help provided to students in reading, language arts, and/or math.  This extra help can be provided before or after school, on weekends, during intersessions, or during summer and is at no cost to you.  Supplemental Service Providers are approved by the Title 1 Department at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.  These Providers may be public or private school entities, public or private institutions of higher education, for profit or nonprofit organizations, or faith based organizations.  Organizations that provide distance learning technology are also eligible. 

Information on the Providers that are in your area and information on their qualifications and types of services that they offer may be accessed at:
http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleI/pubdocs/SESApprovedProviders.doc
It is your decision as to which Provider you select.  The services will be funded by Title 1 moneys set-aside by the district.  Transportation may be required to the SES provided.  This is the parent's responsibility, as the district is not allowed to pay for this out of the Title 1 SES funds.  The district will then enter into a contract with the Provider on your child's behalf.  To apply for Supplemental Education Services, please contact Susan Davidson at 360-428-6112, Beth Ashley at 360-428-6127, or David Scott at 360-428-6110.

Highly Qualified Teachers 

At the beginning of each school year, any parent who has a child attending any school receiving Title 1 funds may request and receive, in a timely manner, information regarding the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers.  In addition, the parents may also ask whether the child is provided services by a paraprofessional and, if so, his or her qualifications [Section 1111(6)(A) ESEA.] Guidance C-6.  If you would like to receive information about your child's teacher's qualifications or paraprofessional's qualifications, please complete the form in this link and return it to the Human Resources Department, Attention:  Alexia Bautista, at Mount Vernon School District, 124 E. Lawrence Street, Mount Vernon, WA  98273
Parent Request Form:   
http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleIIA/pubdocs/SampleParentRequestInfoAboutTchrQualif.doc
Response Letter to Parents:
http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleIIA/pubdocs/SampleResponseLtrParentsreTchrQual.doc
Sample Letter to Parents/ Non-Highly Qualified:
http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleIIA/pubdocs/SampleLtrtoParentsReInstrucProvbyNon.doc
Highly Qualified Teacher Flow Chart:
http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleIIA/pubdocs/HighlyQualifiedChart.pdf