The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires states to implement a statewide accountability system measuring Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on benchmarks or targets.  Schools, districts, and states must demonstrate significant improvement in student academic achievement.

Any Title I school failing to meet AYP for two consecutive years in the same content area (English Language Arts or mathematics) schoolwide or for any numerically significant subgroup, or on the same indicator such as the Academic Performance Index, schoolwide is identified as "Program Improvement".  Identified schools are responsible for implementing certain federal and state requirements during each year that they are in Program Improvement.  Please refer to the items listed below for a more detailed description.

• Public School Choice - Program Improvement Year 1 schools must offer parents the option of transferring to an available school in the district that has not been identified as a Program Improvement School.

• Supplemental Educational Services - Program Improvement Year 2 schools must offer Public School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services (SES).  SES are free academic tutoring services in English language arts and/or math for eligible students who choose to continue at their school site.  Parents choose from a list of providers approved by the California Department of Education.

• Corrective Action - Program Improvement Year 3 schools must continue to offer Public School Choice and SES, and must also take action to identify underlying staffing, curriculum or other problems that negatively impact student academic performance.

• Alternative Governance - Program Improvement Year 4 schools must continue to offer Public School Choice and SES, and also develop a plan for restructuring the internal organization and governance of the school.

Restructuring - Program Improvement Year 5 schools must continue to offer Public School Choice and SES, and also implement the plan for restructuring the internal organization and governance of the school.