Testimony before the House Education and Labor Committee on the Re-Authorization of No Child Left Behind

This paper outlines a continuous progress model of accountability for No Child Left Behind that incorporates multiple measures of school performance and operates as a growth model. The model uses an index system that assigns weights to school progress indicators. These indicators may include student achievement on a range of assessments in academic subjects, school continuation and graduation rates, and individual student growth. States establish annual targets for continuous progress both toward and beyond a high and rigorous proficiency benchmark. The proficiency benchmark and annual progress toward that benchmark can be calculated for the school as a whole and for specific subgroups within the school. The goal in this system is that 100% of schools will reach this proficiency benchmark by achieving targeted improvement increments, or Adequate Yearly Growth (AYG), each year.