Education Commission of the States

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American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
Summary of Recommendations
NCLB Reauthorization

To better inform the national debate on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization, ECS collected and synthesized recommendations by national organizations to improve the federal law.

ECS' database is organized around 16 issue areas that captured most recommendations. Some organizations did not offer recommendations for all issues, at least according to our analysis. And several recommendations appear more than once since they applied to multiple issue areas.

The summary of the American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) original recommendations are listed in this report. Please see the main page for additional reports and sources for the database.

Highlights
Issues addressed: 8 of 16
Adequate Yearly Progress; Assessment, Standards and Curriculum; Consequences and Interventions; Data Systems and Reporting; English Language Learners; Finance; Students with Disabilities; and Miscellaneous/Overarching.

Issues not addressed: 8 of 16
Capacity, Innovation and Research & Development; Early Childhood; High School; Other Programs; School Safety; School Leadership; Supplemental Education Services; and Teaching Quality.

Areas of emphasis:
Adequate Yearly Progress; and Assessment, Standards and Curriculum; Data Systems and Reporting.

Source:
AASA Recommendations to Improve ESEA (February 2006)
2006 Legislative Agenda (February 2006)

Visit ECS' Database on NCLB Reauthorization main page for more information, explanations and access to organizations' original reports. Please note that ECS plans to expand the database as more information becomes available.

Database Last Updated: July 2007

This database was created and compiled by Mary Fulton, ECS policy analyst.
For questions and comments: 303.299.3679 or mfulton@ecs.org

NCLB Reauthorization : American Association of School Administrators (AASA)

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

AYP 1 - Summary of Recommendation Establish evaluation scales to measure success/failure toward performance standards.

AYP 2 - Summary of Recommendation Vertically align state standards and allow use of AYP or benchmarks to measure student progress toward growth expectations that are based on sample of student progress.

AYP 3 - Summary of Recommendation Judge school/district success based on Title I student achievement.

AYP 4 - Summary of Recommendation Permit use of growth or status models to judge school/district success.

AYP 5 - Summary of Recommendation Identify struggling schools on continuum of success, target assistance to highest need students and tailor accountability systems to needs of students with disabilities and ELL students.

AYP 6 - Summary of Recommendation Permit use of local accountability system if more accurately measures successful instruction.

Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC)

ASC 1 - Summary of Recommendation Continually improve state standards to ensure match skills and knowledge students expected to master in school.

ASC 2 - Summary of Recommendation Develop state tests that allow tracking progress of students and student cohorts toward performance standards and AYP targets.

ASC 3 - Summary of Recommendation Vertically align state standards and allow use of AYP or benchmarks to measure student progress toward growth expectations that are based on sample of student progress.

ASC 4 - Summary of Recommendation Create valid state tests for students with disabilities that are consistent with IEP benchmarks for meeting state standards.

ASC 5 - Summary of Recommendation Allow districts to replace state assessments with local assessments keyed to state content and performance standards.

ASC 6 - Summary of Recommendation Require states to create clear paths to the knowledge and skills students are expected to master throughout their schooling career.

Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)

CIRD 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Consequences and Interventions (CI)

CI 1 - Summary of Recommendation Focus federal funds on increasing achievement among highest-poverty students.

Data Systems and Reporting (DSR)

DSR 1 - Summary of Recommendation Disaggregate and report test results by growth of student cohorts or year-to-year comparisons of percentage of students scoring at proficient level.

DSR 2 - Summary of Recommendation Create valid reporting format for student and cohort results, disaggregated by major demographic categories for ethnicity and income.

DSR 3 - Summary of Recommendation Continue disaggregating student achievement data to shed light on progress of student groups, including low income.

DSR 4 - Summary of Recommendation Require states and districts to disaggregate achievement for Title I students.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

ECE 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

English Language Learners (ELL)

ELL 1 - Summary of Recommendation Identify struggling schools on continuum of success, target assistance to highest need students and tailor accountability systems to needs of students with disabilities and ELL students.

Funding Issues (FI)

FI 1 - Summary of Recommendation Eliminate under-funding of federal programs by switching from grants to contracts with states and include specific compensation for activities.

FI 2 - Summary of Recommendation Focus federal funds on increasing achievement among highest-poverty students.

High Schools (HS)

HS 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations indentified for this issue.

Other Programs (OP)

OP 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Safe Schools (SS)

SS 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

School Leadership (SL)

SL 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Students with Disabilities (SWD)

SWD 1 - Summary of Recommendation Create valid state tests for students with disabilities that are consistent with IEP benchmarks for meeting state standards.

SWD 2 - Summary of Recommendation Identify struggling schools on continuum of success, target assistance to highest need students and tailor accountability systems to needs of students with disabilities and ELL students.

Supplemental Education Services (SES)

SES 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Teaching Quality (TQ)

TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.

Miscellaneous/Overarching (Misc.)

Misc. 1 - Summary of Recommendation Establish independent board to review change and waiver requests to state NCLB plans and federal responses.

Misc. 2 - Summary of Recommendation Require Education Department to disclose rulings made on state plans, including change and waiver requests.

Misc. 3 - Summary of Recommendation Limit federal government's ability to add program requirements without appropriate regulatory process or new legislation.

Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

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Helping State Leaders Shape Education Policy

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
AYP 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Establish evaluation scales to measure success/failure toward performance standards.
AYP 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Vertically align state standards and allow use of AYP or benchmarks to measure student progress toward growth expectations that are based on sample of student progress.
AYP 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Judge school/district success based on Title I student achievement.
AYP 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Permit use of growth or status models to judge school/district success.
AYP 5 - Summary of Recommendation	Identify struggling schools on continuum of success, target assistance to highest need students and tailor accountability systems to needs of students with disabilities and ELL students.
AYP 6 - Summary of Recommendation	Permit use of local accountability system if more accurately measures successful instruction.
Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC)
ASC 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Continually improve state standards to ensure match skills and knowledge students expected to master in school.
ASC 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Develop state tests that allow tracking progress of students and student cohorts toward performance standards and AYP targets.
ASC 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Vertically align state standards and allow use of AYP or benchmarks to measure student progress toward growth expectations that are based on sample of student progress.
ASC 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Create valid state tests for students with disabilities that are consistent with IEP benchmarks for meeting state standards.
ASC 5 - Summary of Recommendation	Allow districts to replace state assessments with local assessments keyed to state content and performance standards.
ASC 6 - Summary of Recommendation	Require states to create clear paths to the knowledge and skills students are expected to master throughout their schooling career.
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
CIRD 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Consequences and Interventions (CI)
CI 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Focus federal funds on increasing achievement among highest-poverty students.
Data Systems and Reporting (DSR)
DSR 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Disaggregate and report test results by growth of student cohorts or year-to-year comparisons of percentage of students scoring at proficient level.
DSR 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Create valid reporting format for student and cohort results, disaggregated by major demographic categories for ethnicity and income.
DSR 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Continue disaggregating student achievement data to shed light on progress of student groups, including low income.
DSR 4 - Summary of Recommendation	Require states and districts to disaggregate achievement for Title I students.
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
ECE 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
English Language Learners (ELL)
ELL 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Identify struggling schools on continuum of success, target assistance to highest need students and tailor accountability systems to needs of students with disabilities and ELL students.
Funding Issues (FI)
FI 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Eliminate under-funding of federal programs by switching from grants to contracts with states and include specific compensation for activities.
FI 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Focus federal funds on increasing achievement among highest-poverty students.
High Schools (HS)
HS 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations indentified for this issue.
Other Programs (OP)
OP 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Safe Schools (SS)
SS 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
School Leadership (SL)
SL 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Students with Disabilities (SWD)
SWD 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Create valid state tests for students with disabilities that are consistent with IEP benchmarks for meeting state standards.
SWD 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Identify struggling schools on continuum of success, target assistance to highest need students and tailor accountability systems to needs of students with disabilities and ELL students.
Supplemental Education Services (SES)
SES 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation	No recommendations identified for this issue.
Miscellaneous/Overarching (Misc.)
Misc. 1 - Summary of Recommendation	Establish independent board to review change and waiver requests to state NCLB plans and federal responses.
Misc. 2 - Summary of Recommendation	Require Education Department to disclose rulings made on state plans, including change and waiver requests.
Misc. 3 - Summary of Recommendation	Limit federal government's ability to add program requirements without appropriate regulatory process or new legislation.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)