July 16, 2010

The Honorable Tom Horne
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 2
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Dear Superintendent Horne:

I am writing in response to Arizona's request to amend its state accountability plan under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). Following discussions between the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and your staff, you made a change to Arizona’s accountability plan, which is now included in the amended state accountability plan that Arizona submitted to the Department on July 7, 2010. I am pleased to approve Arizona’s amended plan, which we will post on the Department’s website. A summary of Arizona’s requested amendment is enclosed with this letter. As you know, any further requests to amend Arizona’s accountability plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval as required by section 1111(f)(2) of Title I of the ESEA.

Please also be aware that approval of Arizona's accountability plan for Title I, including the amendment approved herein, does not indicate that the plan complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

I am confident that Arizona will continue to advance its efforts to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. If you need any additional assistance to implement the standards, assessment, and accountability provisions of the ESEA, please do not hesitate to contact (Victoria.Hammer@ed.gov) or (Clayton.Hollingshead@ed.gov).

Sincerely,

Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, Ph.D.

Enclosure

cc: Governor Jan Brewer
Robert Franciosi

The following is a summary of Arizona's amendment request. Please refer to the Department's website (http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/stateplans03/index.html) for Arizona’s complete accountability plan.

Resetting of annual measurable objectives (AMOs) (Element 3.2)

Revision: Arizona administered new mathematics assessments in spring 2010, in grades 3 through 8 and high school. As a result of these new assessments, Arizona has adjusted its annual measurable objectives (AMOs) in mathematics, still retaining the goal of 100 percent proficiency no later than the 2013-14 school year, in accordance with the requirements of the ESEA. Arizona's revised AMOs are set forth in the table below.

Year	Grade and Annual Measurable Objectives
3	4	5	6	7	8	HA
2010	53	50	44	43	44	48
2011	65	63	58	57	58	61
2012	77	75	72	72	72	74
2013	88	88	86	86	86	87
2014	100	100	100	100	100	100

State Accountability Plans