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State Accountability and Testing

State Accountability and Testing

A requirement for local school districts in California. Here's a breakdown:

  • Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP): This is a three-year plan that each school district creates outlining its goals for improving student achievement. It focuses on eight specific state priorities (explained elsewhere in the code).

  • Annual Update: Every year, the district must update the LCAP to reflect progress made and any changes in plans for the following year.

Essentially, the LCAP and Annual Update are documents that show:

  • What the school district wants to achieve for its students (goals)

  • The specific actions they will take to reach those goals

  • How they will spend their funds to support those actions

Legal References:

The passage mentions specific sections of the California Education Code that provide the legal framework for the LCAP and Annual Update requirement. These sections detail the specific requirements for the content of these documents and the timeline for their submission. Education Code sections 52060, 52066, 47605, 47605.5, and 47606.5.

Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and Federal Funding

  • Federal Funding and Planning: Every year, the district reviews its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to consider how federal funding from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) can be used to support student achievement.

California School Dashboard: A Resource for Parents

  • New Online Tool: The California Department of Education launched a website called the California School Dashboard. This website is a one-stop shop for parents to find important information about their child's school and district, including:

    • Test scores

    • Graduation rates

    • School attendance

    • College and career readiness information

    • Suspension rates

  • Empowering Local Communities: The School Dashboard is part of a new system that gives parents and communities more of a say in how schools are run.

California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE)

  • Earning a High School Diploma: California law allows students who meet eligibility requirements to take the CHSPE exam. Passing this exam is the legal equivalent of earning a high school diploma.

Parent Resources?

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is basically a checkup on how California schools and students are doing. It's like a series of tests given in different grades to see if students are learning the important things they need to know.

Here's a breakdown:

  • Who takes it? Students in grades 3-8 and 11 take the CAASPP.

  • What subjects are tested? English Language Arts (reading and writing) and Math are the main subjects tested. There's also a science test for some grades.

  • What's the goal? The tests help teachers, schools, and parents understand how well students are mastering the California learning standards. These standards are like building blocks for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.

  • Is it pass or fail? There isn't a pass or fail on the CAASPP. Instead, the tests give a score that shows how well a student is progressing towards meeting the learning standards.

Overall, the CAASPP helps ensure all students are on track for success in college, career, and beyond!

Physical Fitness Testing

The California Physical Fitness Test (CA PFT), also known as FITNESSGRAM®, is a specific type of fitness testing used in California schools for students in grades five, seven, and nine. Here's a breakdown:

  • What it is: The CA PFT is a battery of tests that measure five health-related areas of physical fitness:

    • Aerobic Capacity (cardiovascular endurance)

    • Abdominal Strength and Endurance

    • Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility (core strength and flexibility)

    • Upper Body Strength and Endurance

    • Flexibility

  • Why it's done: The main purpose of the CA PFT is not to give students a grade, but to:

    • Monitor overall student fitness: The results provide a snapshot of a student's physical health and ability to perform daily activities.

    • Promote healthy habits: By assessing fitness levels, schools can encourage students to develop lifelong habits of regular physical activity.

    • Evaluate physical education programs: The test data helps schools see if their physical education programs are effectively promoting student fitness.

  • Benefits:

    • Student awareness: Students gain insight into their own fitness level and areas for improvement.

    • Teacher planning: Physical education teachers can tailor their programs to address student needs based on the test data.

    • Parental understanding: Parents receive information about their child's fitness and can use it to encourage healthy habits at home.

It's important to note:

  • The CA PFT has removed Body Mass Index (BMI) testing as of 2022.

  • There are different test options within each fitness area to ensure all students, including those with disabilities, can participate.