What information does the Dashboard include?
The Dashboard is made up of easy-to-use reports that show local educational agency or school performance on six state indicators and four local indicators (six for county offices of education). Users can search to see the reports for any local educational agency or school.
What is a local educational agency?
Local educational agencies are defined in state law as school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools.
Does the Dashboard include information on all schools and local educational agencies?
All LEAs and traditional schools, including charter schools, will receive accountability results reported within their Dashboard.
However, the Dashboard reports for alternative schools that are approved under the "Dashboard Alternative Schools Status" (DASS) will not show data for state indicators. Beginning in Fall 2018, DASS schools will receive complete Dashboard reports and will be accountable for the same state indicators reported in the Dashboard; however, the indicators will be calculated using modified methods that fairly evaluate the performance and progress of alternative schools.
Are charter schools that participate in DASS required to report on local indicators for the Fall 2017 Dashboard release?
Yes, all charters are required to report on the local indicators. Charters participating in DASS will not have any state indicators reported; however, they will have a Dashboard report that displays information on their local indicators.
Why was the Dashboard created?
The Dashboard was created to give parents and the public a better idea of what is happening in our schools and districts and to identify districts and schools that need extra help. The Dashboard is a component of the Local Control Funding Formula law passed in 2013 that significantly changed how California provides funding to public schools and holds local educational agencies accountable for student performance.
The Local Control Funding Formula law required that the State Board of Education adopt a new accountability tool that reflects performance in different priority areas identified in the law. The Dashboard is how performance data on the state and local indicators that the State Board of Education included in this new accountability tool is shown publicly.
What is different about California's new school accountability system?
California's new school accountability system provides a more complete picture of how schools are meeting the needs of all students. There are three important advantages to California's new approach:
- More than a single number: The multiple measures of student success define a quality education more broadly than a single test score.
- Equity: There is an increased focus on identifying and addressing disparities among student groups
- Supporting Local Decision Making: State accountability tools provide information to support local planning process around improving student performance.