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What is the California
School Dashboard?
California
is field testing a new website designed to help communities across the state
access important information about K-12 districts and schools. Called the California School Dashboard, the site 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. It is the next step in a series of
major shifts in public education that have raised the bar for student learning,
transformed testing and placed the focus on equity for all students.
Why a new system and a new tool?
The
Dashboard is a key part of California’s commitment to transparency and
continuous improvement. California’s future success depends on tapping
into the potential of all students,
so they graduate ready for college, careers and life. For schools to reach this
goal, teachers, parents and the community need clear and useful measures of
progress. As an accountability tool, the Dashboard will help the state identify
schools (including charter schools) and districts needing targeted assistance.
What’s Different?
In
the past, accountability systems for districts and schools 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.
Think of it
this way: You can’t drive a car by only watching the speedometer. You also keep
your eye on the road, check the mirrors, monitor the gas tank and pay attention
if the engine light comes on. Similarly, the Dashboard provides information on
different aspects of student performance, which will give a more complete
picture of a school’s progress. The Dashboard also reports on growth to show a
school’s trajectory over time.
What’s Next?
The
Dashboard is deliberately designed to be a work in progress: Metrics and
reports will be added over time. During the field testing phase, the state will
be gathering feedback to make additional modifications.
The exciting changes taking place in
education will take time to fully implement. While schools are making progress
in many key areas there is always more work to do. The Dashboard is part of an
ongoing conversation with our community on both how we’re doing and how we can
do better. Meeting goals will take a united effort, and I look forward to
working with our families to ensure success for every student.