A Focus on Continuous Improvement
California has begun its transition to a new accountability system known as the California School Dashboard.
The California Department of Education first released the Dashboard in March. This initial release serves as an introduction to the new system for both schools and the public.
The Dashboard provides performance indicators in each of the following areas:
- Chronic Absenteeism
- Suspension Rates
- English Learner Progress
- Graduation Rates
- Academic Test Scores
- College and Career Readiness
Focusing on Today While Looking Ahead
Performance indicators are a “score” based on a combination of status and change:
- Status is where a school is today, based on the most recent data
- Change is the progress a school has made from one year to the next
Status and change each have five levels:
- Status: Very High, High, Medium, Low, Very Low
- Change: Increased Significantly, Increased, Maintained, Declined, Declined Significantly
These level are combined to produce a performance category using the 5×5 grid below. For example, a school with high test scores that have increased from the previous year would receive a performance indicator of green for Academic Test Scores.
Performance Displayed by Color
On the formal report, performance categories are displayed as both a color and as a number of pie segments.
The Dashboard will be released annually beginning in November 2017. But you can review the initial data now for your student’s school by visiting www.caschooldashboard.org.
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Sources
California Department of Education, California School Dashboard Tutorial video
California School Information Services, CALPADS Information Meeting 4.18.17, Training Materials
Corona-Norco Unified School District, California School Dashboard, Featured Image