"To apply a formula that isn't approved or recognized as an appropriate way to reflect on the conclusions of AYP seems to miss the point that you should be trying to identify what's happening in the schools so you can make the appropriate improvements."

Granite School District on Friday did not seem to have immediate plans to change course.

"Granite School District is using three-year averaging according to what the state (office of education) has allowed us to do," spokesman Randy Ripplinger said.

Alpine School District has been discussing whether to use three-year averaging for appeals, and the federal stand is part of it, research and evaluation director John Jesse said.

"We have not yet made any declaration of appeals for any schools at this point," Jesse said Friday.

It's uncertain whether averaging will bring consequences.

Park said the State Board of Education is expected to discuss the matter Thursday. A revised state AYP report is expected around Jan. 15.

The federal government has not itself investigated or found wrongdoing, Colby said. The federal department could expedite regular monitoring of Utah or investigate if a formal complaint is lodged, Colby said.

The federal department has withheld administration funds of a few states, notably Texas, but is not believed to have yanked money away from schools.

Still, ethnic minority student advocate Michael Clara is watching the issue closely.

"(The state is) giving districts latitude to do it this way or that way, and all it serves is to muddy the water," Clara said.

"That's what I think (the state's) intention is at the end of the day ... so they don't have to be accountable to ethnic minority children," he said. "The problem at the federal level is they are not holding this state accountable for their shenanigans, and the state knows they can get away with it. We would never let a child or a student get away with this stuff."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com