Under No Child Left Behind, schools receiving Title I funds face an escalating series of interventions for failing to meet adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years or more.

Schools can be removed from this process once they make AYP for two years straight. Schools that make AYP for one year may delay implementation of the sanctions the following year.

AFTER TWO YEARS: The school is identified as being “in need of improvement,” and districts must provide technical assistance to help develop a two-year school improvement plan. All students in the school, not just low-scoring students, are eligible to transfer to other district schools that have made AYP. (The district must provide at least two choice options.) Districts also must set aside at least 10 percent of Title I funds on professional development for teachers and principals; up to 20 percent of district Title I funds must be set aside for supplemental services and choice-related transportation costs.

AFTER THREE YEARS: Schools must continue school improvement efforts and choice options. The district also must make tutoring and other supplemental educational services available to low-income students. (Providers are selected by parents from a state-approved list of outside providers, including for-profit or private nonprofit groups). Up to 20 percent of district Title I funds must be used for supplemental services and choice-related transportation costs.

AFTER FOUR YEARS: Schools must continue public school choice and supplemental educational service options. Corrective action must be taken, including at least one of the following: Replace all school staff who are relevant to the failure; institute and implement a new curriculum, including professional development for staff, that offers substantial promise of improving the achievement of low-achieving children; significantly decrease management authority at the school level; appoint an outside expert to advise the school; extend the school day or year; or restructure the internal organizational structure of the school.

AFTER FIVE YEARS: The school must continue its public school choice and supplemental services options. The school must plan for restructuring by changing governance structure, including one of the following: reopen the school as a public charter school; replace all or most of the school staff relevant to the failure to make AYP; enter into a contract with a private management company to operate the school; turn the operation of the school over to the state; or any other major restructuring of the school’s governance that makes fundamental reforms to improve student academic achievement and make AYP.

AFTER SIX YEARS: The school must implement its restructuring plan developed in year five.

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