Abilene Independent School District failed to meet federal standards outlined by the No Child Left Behind Act for the 2011-2012 school year.

The act outlines Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements for reading and math test scores. The following student categories apply to AISD: African-American, Hispanic, Caucasian, economically disadvantaged, special education and Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Though AISD made progress in nearly every category, three did not make the cut.

"We are very happy with the progress we're making," AISD Superintendent Dr. Heath Burns said. "Having said that, we won't rest until every student is achieving academic success," he continued.

For reading test scores, LEP student test scores decreased from 64% in the 2010-2011 school year to 63% in the 2011-2012 school year. The AYP requirement was 87%.

"We have plans in place and we've been working with those students for years and we'll continue to do so until the gap goes away completely," Burns said.

Burns said many of the AISD LEP students are refugees who need help adjusting to their new environment.

For math test scores, AISD's African-American and special education students are lagging behind. African-American students scored 76% and special education students scored 62 %. The AYP requirement was 83%.

"We create specific programs both in school and after school tutorial programs to try to shrink those gaps," Burns said. "In most of our schools, those gaps are getting smaller. It's just going to take time."

The No Child Left Behind Act is designed to require 100% passing rates in math and reading by 2014. Burns told KTXS he considers it an unrealistic goal.