Georgia Department of Education
LETTER TO PARENTS
REGARDING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STATUS
Page 1 of 2
Note: This letter may be appropriate for certain schools based on the individual circumstances. It is not
necessarily appropriate for all schools.
[Insert Date]
Dear Parent(s):
Adequate yearly progress (AYP) is one of the cornerstones of the federal No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 (NCLB). It is a measure of year-to-year student achievement on statewide
assessments. Schools that do not meet the State standard for AYP in the same subject for two
or more consecutive years are placed in Needs Improvement Status.
In compliance with the requirements of the NCLB statute, parents have options available when
a school is identified as needing improvement. The first year the school is identified for needs
improvement, the option of sending your student to a higher performing school in the county
begins. The option of requesting that your student receive supplemental tutoring services is
made available beginning with the second year the school is identified.
At [insert school name], we take pride in the educational opportunities we are able to provide
for our children. Our teachers and staff members work very hard to meet the needs of all
students. We know that students are learning and making good progress, and we consider this
to be an important indicator of success. Several different assessments of student achievement
have shown us that our students are making significant gains, often more than a year’s growth
in a year’s time.
In spite of the progress made by most of our students, [insert school name] has been included
on a list of schools in Georgia identified as not making AYP. Even with the school’s overall
success, we did not meet Georgia’s educational standards on the third grade Criterion
Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) mathematics test for the last two years, thereby
resulting in the school being identified as a first year “Needs Improvement” school under NCLB.
[Insert school name] as well as [insert district name] as a whole made adequate yearly
progress for all other state standards. Other elementary schools in the county met the third
grade mathematics standard in addition to the other standards. Seventy-two percent of
students in the county met the third grade mathematics standard for the 2005 test, while 56.2
percent met the standard at [insert school name].
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
June 2008
Georgia Department of Education
Page 2 of 2
[Insert school name] is implementing the following strategies to improve student achievement
in third grade mathematics.
 Prescriptive computer assisted program for all [insert grade] grade students.
 Formative assessment project including training for [insert grade] grade teachers on
effectively using formative assessment to facilitate learning.
 On-going grade level meetings to discuss pacing and curriculum implementation.
 School-wide homework project.
 Extended day/week/year learning opportunities for elementary mathematics students.
[Insert district name] is also providing additional support to [insert school name] to increase
third grade mathematics achievement.
 Consultants to visit the school and provide training for new projects being implemented.
 Central office class visits during mathematics instruction.
 On-going supervision of new projects being implemented.
 Assistance in planning and evaluating improvement projects.
As parents, there are some things you can do to strengthen the academic achievement of your
children. The following is a list of things we believe will support our schools as we strive to
improve the educational performance of all our students:
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Hold high expectations for your child.
Support the school in its efforts to maintain proper discipline.
Instill in your child a positive attitude toward school.
Make sure that your child attends school regularly, arrives on time and has appropriate
supplies.
Communicate regularly with the teachers of your child.
Attend workshops provided to assist you in working with your student to increase
achievement.
Support your student in doing homework.
Parents, if you would like to request for your student to transfer to another elementary school in
the county, please complete the attached form and return it to the attendant in the front office of
the school by May 30. If you want your child to remain at [insert school name] no action on
your part is required.
At [insert school name], we are committed to continually seeking to improve instruction for our
students. We hope that as parents, you will become involved in our school improvement
initiatives as we continue to monitor student achievement and set high expectations. We
encourage you to get to know your child’s teacher and the class routines and expectations. If
you have any questions concerning the contents of this letter, please give me a call at [insert
telephone number].
Sincerely,
[Insert principal’s name]
Attachment
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
June 2008
Georgia Department of Education
LETTER TO PARENTS
REGARDING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STATUS
Page 1 of 2
Note: This letter may be appropriate for certain schools based on the individual circumstances. It is not
necessarily appropriate for all schools.
[Insert Date]
Dear Parents:
The [insert district name] began implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
(NCLB). The school district believes our existing efforts to improve student achievement are
directly aligned to this legislation. We have implemented school improvement plans in each
school to put additional programs in place to assist all schools in providing the best education
for all students.
As you know some of the provisions in the law apply to your student’s school. Specifically,
students must make adequate yearly progress (AYP) on several criteria. You will recall from
information sent home with your student, elementary and middle school student mastery of state
standards is measured by the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) administered in
the spring of each year. Besides meeting predetermined academic requirements on the CRCT
tests to make AYP, schools must also meet requirements for participation in assessments, and
requirements for other academic related indicators. If AYP is not made in the same area for two
consecutive years, a school is identified as a Needs Improvement School.
[Insert school name], as well as other schools in the district, was successful in meeting AYP
on all academic assessments last spring. The district is proud of the academic success attained
by [insert school name] and other schools in the District. However, you will recall that [insert
school name] was previously identified as a Needs Improvement School because student
participation in taking the reading/language arts tests was below 95 percent. Once a school is
identified for improvement it must make AYP in the identified area for two consecutive years to
be removed from the list. [Insert school name] made AYP with over 95 percent participation
last spring, but it is still on the list until AYP is made for two consecutive years.
In accordance with NCLB, [insert school name] is required to offer the school choice Option.
However, since [insert school name] is the only middle school in the [insert district name],
there is no other school to which your student may transfer. Although school choice is not
available, students will continue to have the opportunity to participate in supplemental
educational services, including tutoring, provided as part of the Title I program in an effort to
increase the number of students achieving at or above state standards.
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
June 2008
Georgia Department of Education
Page 2 of 2
Only students who qualify for free/reduced priced meals are eligible for Supplemental
Educational Services (SES). Parents of students who qualify for free/reduced priced meals will
receive a follow-up letter with additional information about SES.
[Insert school name] has implemented the following strategies to improve student participation
in academic assessments.
 On-going public relations program related to the necessity of increasing test participation for
students and parents.
 School morale and motivation strategies.
 Strategies to improve over-all school attendance.
 Yearlong test preparation project.
 Rewards and recognition program.
 Extended test taking window and precise follow-up for making up tests missed.
[Insert district name] is also providing additional support to [insert school name] to increase
participation in academic assessments.
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Consultants to visit the school and provide training for projects being implemented.
On-going supervision of new projects being implemented.
Assistance in planning and evaluating improvement projects.
Assist school in extending the test taking window and planning a precise follow-up for
making up tests missed.
As parents, there are some things you can do to assist us in increasing student participation in
academic assessments. Your participation is appreciated and essential to the schools success.
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Participate in all activities offered to parents on the subject of assessments so that you can
help you student be physically and mentally prepared to be a good test taker.
Instill in your child a positive attitude toward school.
Make sure that your child attends school regularly, arrives on time and has appropriate
supplies throughout the school year.
Know the school testing schedule, and make sure your student is in school on testing days.
Sincerely,
[Insert principal’s name]
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
June 2008
Georgia Department of Education
SCHOOL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT STATUS PRESS RELEASE
Note: This press release may be appropriate for certain schools based on the individual circumstances.
It is not necessarily appropriate for all schools.
PRESS RELEASE
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) was signed into law on January 8, 2002. The
intent of the Act is to improve student achievement across the nation, particularly the
achievement of low-performing students from low-income families.
[Insert school name] takes much pride in the educational opportunities provided for our
children. Teachers and staff members work very hard to meet the needs of all students.
Students are learning and making good progress, factors considered to be an important
indicator of success. Several different assessments of student achievement have shown that
our students are making significant gains, often more than a year’s growth in a year’s time.
In spite of the progress made by most of our students, [insert school name] has been included
on a list of schools in Georgia identified as not making adequate yearly progress (AYP). [Insert
school name] is identified as a Needs Improvement Year ____ school. Even with the school’s
overall success, some students have not met Georgia’s educational standards on
______________, thereby resulting in the school being identified as in needs improvement
under the NCLB. As a result, the school is developing a plan for improvement that will focus on
the academic achievement of all students, and in accordance with NCLB, specifically
addressing the reason why the school is identified as needs improvement.
Parents can help our schools in strengthening the academic achievement of all children. The
following is a list of things parents can do to support our schools as we strive to improve the
educational performance of all our students:





Hold high expectations for your child.
Support the school in its efforts to maintain proper discipline.
Instill in your child a positive attitude toward school.
Make sure that your child attends school regularly, arrives on time and has appropriate
supplies.
Communicate regularly with the teachers of your child.
In [insert school name], we are committed to continually seeking to improve instruction for our
students. We hope that as a parent, you will become involved in our school improvement
initiatives as we continue to monitor student achievement and set high expectations. We
encourage you to get to know your child’s teacher and the class routines and expectations. We
are proud of the professional credentials of our teaching staff and will furnish to you, upon
request, the professional qualifications of any of your student’s classroom teachers. If you have
any questions concerning the needs improvement status of [insert school name], please call
[insert principal’s name] at [insert telephone number].
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
June 2008
Georgia Department of Education
SCHOOL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT STATUS PRESS RELEASE
Note: This press release may be appropriate for certain schools based on the individual circumstances.
It is not necessarily appropriate for all schools.
PRESS RELEASE
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Act of 2001 is designed to increase educational
opportunities for all students. The [insert district name] believes our existing efforts to
improve student achievement are directly aligned to this legislation. We are implementing
school improvement plans in each school to put additional programs in place to assist all
schools in providing the best education for all students.
Some of the provisions in NCLB apply to your child’s school. [Insert school name] is identified
as a Needs Improvement Year _____ school. Elementary and middle school student mastery of
state standards is measured by the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT)
administered in the spring of each year. Besides academic requirements, schools must also
meet requirements for participation in assessments and requirements for other academic
related indicators in order to make adequate yearly progress (AYP).
One of the most highly publicized provisions of NCLB is that students in a needs improvement
school may apply for transfer to another school in the district that is not designated as in need of
school improvement. Requests for school transfers under NCLB for [insert school name]
students will be considered for transfers to [insert school name]. School districts are
responsible for providing transportation for transferring students from Title I schools. Priority for
both transfers and transportation will be given to low-achieving students from low-income
families. Transportation will discontinue, however, if a child’s home school is removed from
needs improvement status. In that event, the child could remain at the new school but the
parent must provide transportation.
If you are interested in additional information regarding the public school choice provisions of
NCLB, contact [insert name]. Any requests for change in enrollment must be completed by
[insert date]. If you want your child to remain at [insert school name], no action on your part
is required.
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
June 2008