Indiana is one of six states selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in a new federal pilot program, providing assistance to underperforming Title I schools.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed first mentioned the pilot program in March. She said the Differentiated Accountability Program pilot will help states assist schools where need is the greatest.

Under the current adequate yearly progress guidelines, schools must receive certain achievement benchmarks before receiving money to help improve student performance.

The pilot program will allow struggling schools to receive money up front to improve performance and help meet other guidelines.

"Everything is not in place, but we're in the process of putting together the support structures to make these things happen when school starts in the fall," said Indiana Department of Education spokesman Avon Waters.

Under the program, teachers will be trained to perform on-line assessments of student skills. If students aren't meeting the goals, teachers will continue instruction until the students understand the topics at hand, Waters said.

"The goal is to give students the help they need now, rather than waiting until they take ISTEP (a state standardized achievement test)," he said.