On October 29, 2008, the Department published final regulations amending the existing regulations implementing Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). The amendments included changes to 34 C.F.R. §200.19, regarding the "other academic indicators" that States use in defining "adequate yearly progress" (AYP). This non-regulatory guidance provides States, LEAs, and schools with information about how to implement the provisions in 34 C.F.R. §200.19(b). Section A of this guidance defines the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, the extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, and the transitional graduation rates that are allowable until States must implement the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Section B guides States in setting a single graduation rate goal and annual graduation rate targets. Section C outlines requirements for reporting graduation rate. Section D answers questions about how States include the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and any extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate in AYP determinations, including the use of disaggregated rates for student subgroups. Section E provides information about how a State must revise its Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook (Accountability Workbook) to include certain information and submit its revisions to the Department for technical assistance and peer review. Section F clarifies the timeline for implementing the new graduation rate provisions, as well as the process for how a State that cannot meet the deadlines outlined in the final regulations may request, from the Secretary, an extension of time to meet the requirements.

The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) encourages Congress to recognize and prioritize the nation's dropout crisis by giving youth who are behind or disconnected from school a chance to get back on track on a pathway to a diploma.  In line with this aim, NYEC offers the following recommendations to be considered in reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), previously authorized as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).