Level 4 requires the school to begin making plans for restructuring. And the school still has to meet the requirements of Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Level 5 requires the school to implement its restructuring plan. The school is then allowed to start with a clean slate.

West Middle School in Uintah School District is the only school in Utah to have made it to Level 5. It closed and reopened this fall with a K-8 grade configuration, a new principal and significant changes in staffing. The school even has a new name: Eagle View Elementary School.

"They get a fresh start," said Karl Wilson, state director of Title 1 programs.

While most schools view being on the list as a negative, Wilson says many positive things have occurred for the sanctioned schools including a greater focus on student data, more support for students who are struggling and aid for teachers to develop research-based strategies.

School districts as a whole can be placed on the improvement list. Districts in Levels 1 and 2 of the list are required to put 10 percent of their Title 1 funding toward professional development to address achieving AYP.

Districts in Level 3 and beyond are to implement corrective action such as revising curriculum.

There are six school districts on the district improvement list this year, as compared to last year's 10. They are: Duchesne, Level 4 in math; Granite, Level 4 in language arts and Level 2 in math; Jordan, Level 2 in math; Ogden, Level 3 in language arts and Level 4 in math; Washington Level 3 in language arts; and Weber, Level 3 in math.

No Child Left Behind is a federal mandate that aims for schools to ensure all students are succeeding — regardless of ethnicity, income, disability or English skills — and are proficient in language arts and math by 2014.

For more information on Utah's AYP reports, go to usoe.k12.ut.us.

---

E-mail: astewart@desnews.com