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California Schools Dashboard

California school dashboard

California Schools Dashboard

California has launched a field test of the California School Dashboard, an online tool designed to help communities across the state access important information about K-12 districts and schools.

The California School Dashboard website features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success, including test scores, graduation rates, English learner progress and suspension rates. The Dashboard is part of California’s new school accountability system based on 2013’s Local Control Funding Formula and it’s the next step in a series of major shifts in public education, changes that have raised the bar for student learning, transformed testing and put the focus on equity.

To view the California School Dashboard and the report for Oxnard School District, click here.

California Accountability Model & School Dashboard

California’s New Accountability and Continuous Improvement System - More than just a number

Easy to understand information about the California Schools Dashboard

California is making a series of major shifts in public education with one overriding goal: To improve learning so all students can be successful in school, college, work and life. We are raising academic standards, empowering local school communities, renewing our commitment to equity and changing the way we evaluate and support schools. The California School Dashboard, the Local Control and Accountability Plan and the California Statewide System of Support are key features of this effort. Together, all these changes make up The California Way.

Multiple Measures

WHAT: The Dashboard shows how well students within a district or  school are performing on a variety of indicators, including test scores, graduation rates, suspension rates, English learner progress and college/career readiness. The indicators are color-coded – blue is the highest rating and red is the lowest.

WHY: In the past, test scores were often the only measure of student success. But students are more than test scores. Looking at more data – and more meaningful information -- helps more precisely identify a district or school’s strengths and weaknesses and highlights performance gaps between groups of learners.

Focus on Equity

WHAT: The Dashboard’s Equity Report shows – at a glance – how student groups are performing on various measures. Student groups include ethnic and racial groups, low-income students, English learners, foster youth and students with special needs.

WHY: The Dashboard makes inequities impossible to ignore and helps communities align resources to improving student group performance through the Local Control and Accountability Plan process.

Supporting Local Decision-Making

WHAT: The Dashboard supports California’s groundbreaking Local Control Funding Formula, which gives districts and schools more flexibility in using state resources and provides extra funding to districts and schools serving students needing extra help.

WHY: Local education communities know best how to address local needs. Top-down approaches of the past haven’t worked because California is too big and too diverse for one-size-fits-all approaches to district and school improvement.

Continuous Improvement

WHAT: The new California Statewide System of Support – which begins this school year – includes three levels of assistance to districts: Level 1 is support for all districts. The support includes workshops for teachers, classroom coaches and sharing of “best practices” proven to help accelerate student learning. Level 2 is support to districts and schools struggling to lift up the performance of one or more student groups. Together with partners, these districts will examine the factors behind low performance and develop strategies for improving classroom learning. Level 3 is state intervention for districts that fail to improve student group performance in three out of four years.

WHY: Working collaboratively with districts to provide support and assistance will ensure that struggling districts get the services they need to better serve their students.  

More than a Number: Using Multiple Measures 

  • The California School Dashboard aims to synthesize and make accessible a wealth of state and local data to help schools achieve better outcomes for California's students.
  • In the past, accountability systems for schools and districts relied solely on test scores. But one test taken on one particular day doesn't provide a complete picture of all the ways schools are helping students succeed.
  • The new California School Dashboard is an easy-to-use online tool to access this wealth of information, giving parents, teachers and community members a fuller picture of a school’s progress.
  • Instead of relying exclusively on test scores as the previous accountability system did, this new system gives a snapshot of a manageable set of indicators, including high school graduation rates, career and college readiness, English learner progress and suspension rates, while still looking at test scores.
  • The Dashboard’s multiple indicators give a fuller picture of a school's progress. The Dashboard also reports on growth to show a school's trajectory over time.
  • Looking at different forms of data provides different information to help parents and educators understand all the ways schools and districts keep students on track for success.

Focus on Equity: Success for Every Student 

  • California's future success depends on preparing every student at every school to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The additional information in the California School Dashboard can help improve equity among student groups by revealing where disparities exist.
  • Having access to relevant information helps schools and districts understand where students are struggling and ensures staff can respond with resources.
  • Under the previous system, data about student group performance was limited to test scores only. The new system provides student group information on a variety of helpful indicators and puts it in one location.
  • Equity is at the heart of the new accountability system and equity indicators are up front and center on the Dashboard.
  • The new system provides information on graduation rates, test scores, suspension data and English learner progress disaggregated by student group.
  • Highlighting disparities among student groups will help parents, educators and community members pinpoint specific areas in need of targeted assistance.
  • Student group performance and progress also will be used to identify schools and districts needing additional assistance from the state.
  • The California School Dashboard will help ensure that schools keep their promise to the community to improve learning for all students.

Support for Local Decision-Making 

  • The Dashboard supports California's groundbreaking Local Control Funding Formula, which gives districts and schools more flexibility in using state resources.
  • Through the Dashboard, districts and schools have access to the information they need to make the best local decisions about the education of children.
  • The Dashboard will help schools and districts align resources to student outcomes through Local Control and Accountability Plans.
  • Schools that do not improve over time will be identified as eligible for assistance.
  • Those that are excelling can assist others by sharing their methods and practices.