Kentucky Schools

    As part of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Kentucky is doing very well. After testing during the 2004-05 school year, nearly 75% of schools met 100% of the years Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals. One hundred and twelve (112) schools out of the 304 that did not meet their goals did reach 90% or higher of their goals. AYP requirements are goals set by the federal government requiring a certain percentage of students testing at a certain percentage. By 2014, 100% of students will be required to be proficient in Reading and Math for their grade level. Each year, schools are required to improve standardized test scores.

Over 60% of Kentucky students attend a school that is labeled “Title I” by NCLB. These schools focus on improving the scores of “disadvantaged” students. Extra federal funding is given to Title I schools and is used for after-school programs, free tutoring for students who need extra help, and other programs designed to help low-income students achieve their potential. Federal NCLB law states that a student attending a Title I school that has needed improvement two years in a row can transfer to another school that is meeting requirements until their local school has met requirements two years in a row.

Kentucky spent over $7500 per student, or over $3 billion statewide in the 2005 fiscal year.

Information on Kentucky’s Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2005-06 school year will be available on the Department of Education website (http://www.education.ky.gov) beginning September 21, 2006.