The other day at work I was researching how Florida implemented Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). I was so confused by Florida's convoluted process that I had to make a huge flow chart of all that has to happen for a school to make AYP. When I got done, I decided to do the same type of chart for how states are supposed to implement AYP provisions of NCLB.

Despite all the bickering and distortions of AYP under NCLB, it's very simple: schools either meet the state achievement standard, or move a significant amount of students toward the achievement standard. If they don't make AYP for two years, then the school is put on an improvement plan, kids are offered access to another public school that does make AYP, etc.