Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
For purposes of this chapter, all references to schools shall include charter schools.
(Added by Stats. 1999, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 3, Sec. 1. Effective June 25, 1999.)
(a) (1) The Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, shall develop an Academic Performance Index (API), to measure the performance of schools and school districts, especially the academic performance of pupils.
(2) A school or school district shall demonstrate comparable improvement in academic achievement as measured by the API by all numerically significant pupil subgroups at the school or school district, including:
(A) Ethnic subgroups.
(B) Socioeconomically disadvantaged pupils.
(C) English learners.
(D) Pupils with disabilities.
(E) Foster youth.
(F) Homeless youth.
(3) (A) For purposes of this section, a numerically significant pupil subgroup is one that consists of at least 30 pupils, each of whom has a valid test score.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for a subgroup of pupils who are foster youth or homeless youth, a numerically significant pupil subgroup is one that consists of at least 15 pupils.
(C) For a school or school district with an API score that is based on no fewer than 11 and no more than 99 pupils with valid test scores, numerically significant pupil subgroups shall be defined by the Superintendent, with approval by the state board.
(4) (A) The API shall consist of a variety of indicators currently reported to the department, including, but not limited to, the results of the achievement test administered pursuant to Section 60640, attendance rates for pupils in elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools, and the graduation rates for pupils in secondary schools.
(B) The Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, may also incorporate into the API the rates at which pupils successfully promote from one grade to the next in middle school and high school, and successfully matriculate from middle school to high school.
(C) Graduation rates for pupils in secondary schools shall be calculated for the API as follows:
(i) Four-year graduation rates shall be calculated by taking the number of pupils who graduated on time for the current school year, which is considered to be three school years after the pupils entered grade 9 for the first time, and dividing that number by the total calculated in clause (ii).
(ii) The number of pupils entering grade 9 for the first time in the school year three school years before the current school year, plus the number of pupils who transferred into the class graduating at the end of the current school year between the school year that was three school years before the current school year and the date of graduation, less the number of pupils who transferred out of the school between the school year that was three school years before the current school year and the date of graduation who were members of the class that is graduating at the end of the current school year.
(iii) Five-year graduation rates shall be calculated by taking the number of pupils who graduated on time for the current school year, which is considered to be four school years after the pupils entered grade 9 for the first time, and dividing that number by the total calculated in clause (iv).
(iv) The number of pupils entering grade 9 for the first time in the school year four years before the current school year, plus the number of pupils who transferred into the class graduating at the end of the current school year between the school year that was four school years before the current school year and the date of graduation, less the number of pupils who transferred out of the school between the school year that was four years before the current school year and the date of graduation who were members of the class that is graduating at the end of the current school year.
(v) Six-year graduation rates shall be calculated by taking the number of pupils who graduated on time for the current school year, which is considered to be five school years after the pupils entered grade 9 for the first time, and dividing that number by the total calculated in clause (vi).
(vi) The number of pupils entering grade 9 for the first time in the school year five years before the current school year, plus the number of pupils who transferred into the class graduating at the end of the current school year between the school year that was five school years before the current school year and the date of graduation, less the number of pupils who transferred out of the school between the school year that was five years before the current school year and the date of graduation who were members of the class that is graduating at the end of the current school year.
(D) The inclusion of five- and six-year graduation rates for pupils in secondary schools shall meet the following requirements:
(i) Schools and school districts shall be granted one-half the credit in their API scores for graduating pupils in five years that they are granted for graduating pupils in four years.
(ii) Schools and school districts shall be granted one-quarter the credit in their API scores for graduating pupils in six years that they are granted for graduating pupils in four years.
(iii) Notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii), schools and school districts shall be granted full credit in their API scores for graduating in five or six years a pupil with disabilities who graduates in accordance with his or her individualized education program.
(E) The pupil data collected for the API that comes from the achievement test administered pursuant to Section 60640 and the high school exit examination administered pursuant to Section 60851, when fully implemented, shall be disaggregated by special education status, English learners, socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnic group. Only the test scores of pupils who were counted as part of the enrollment in the annual data collection of the California Basic Educational Data System for the current fiscal year and who were continuously enrolled during that year may be included in the test result reports in the API score of the school.
(F) (i) Commencing with the baseline API calculation in 2016, and for each year thereafter, results of the achievement test and other tests specified in subdivision (b) shall constitute no more than 60 percent of the value of the index for secondary schools.
(ii) In addition to the elements required by this paragraph, the Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, may incorporate into the index for secondary schools valid, reliable, and stable measures of pupil preparedness for postsecondary education and career.
(G) Results of the achievement test and other tests specified in subdivision (b) shall constitute at least 60 percent of the value of the index for primary schools and middle schools.
(H) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state’s system of public school accountability be more closely aligned with both the public’s expectations for public education and the workforce needs of the state’s economy. It is therefore necessary that the accountability system evolve beyond its narrow focus on pupil test scores to encompass other valuable information about school performance, including, but not limited to, pupil preparedness for college and career, as well as the high school graduation rates already required by law.
(I) The Superintendent shall annually determine the accuracy of the graduation rate data. Notwithstanding any other law, graduation rates for pupils in dropout recovery high schools shall not be included in the API. For purposes of this subparagraph, “dropout recovery high school” means a high school in which 50 percent or more of its pupils have been designated as dropouts pursuant to the exit/withdrawal codes developed by the department or left a school and were not otherwise enrolled in a school for a period of at least 180 days.
(J) To complement the API, the Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, may develop and implement a program of school quality review that features locally convened panels to visit schools, observe teachers, interview pupils, and examine pupil work, if an appropriation for this purpose is made in the annual Budget Act.
(K) The Superintendent shall annually provide to local educational agencies and the public a transparent and understandable explanation of the individual components of the API and their relative values within the API.
(L) An additional element chosen by the Superintendent and the state board for inclusion in the API pursuant to this paragraph shall not be incorporated into the API until at least one full school year after the state board’s decision to include the element into the API.
(b) Pupil scores from the following tests, when available and when found to be valid and reliable for this purpose, shall be incorporated into the API:
(1) The standards-based achievement tests provided for in Section 60642.5.
(2) The high school exit examination.
(c) Based on the API, the Superintendent shall develop, and the state board shall adopt, expected annual percentage growth targets for all schools based on their API baseline score from the previous year. Schools are expected to meet these growth targets through effective allocation of available resources. For schools below the statewide API performance target adopted by the state board pursuant to subdivision (d), the minimum annual percentage growth target shall be 5 percent of the difference between the actual API score of a school and the statewide API performance target, or one API point, whichever is greater. Schools at or above the statewide API performance target shall have, as their growth target, maintenance of their API score above the statewide API performance target. However, the state board may set differential growth targets based on grade level of instruction and may set higher growth targets for the lowest performing schools because they have the greatest room for improvement. To meet its growth target, a school shall demonstrate that the annual growth in its API is equal to or more than its schoolwide annual percentage growth target and that all numerically significant pupil subgroups, as defined in subdivision (a), are making comparable improvement.
(d) Upon adoption of state performance standards by the state board, the Superintendent shall recommend, and the state board shall adopt, a statewide API performance target that includes consideration of performance standards and represents the proficiency level required to meet the state performance target.
(e) (1) A school or school district with 11 to 99 pupils with valid test scores shall receive an API score with an asterisk that indicates less statistical certainty than API scores based on 100 or more test scores.
(2) A school or school district annually shall receive an API score, unless the Superintendent determines that an API score would be an invalid measure of the performance of the school or school district for one or more of the following reasons:
(A) Irregularities in testing procedures occurred.
(B) The data used to calculate the API score of the school or school district are not representative of the pupil population at the school or school district.
(C) Significant demographic changes in the pupil population render year-to-year comparisons of pupil performance invalid.
(D) The department discovers or receives information indicating that the integrity of the API score has been compromised.
(E) Insufficient pupil participation in the assessments included in the API.
(F) A transition to new standards-based assessments compromises comparability of results across schools or school districts. The Superintendent may use the authority in this subparagraph in the 2013–14 and 2014–15 school years only, with the approval of the state board.
(3) If a school or school district has fewer than 100 pupils with valid test scores, the calculation of the API or adequate yearly progress pursuant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) and federal regulations may be calculated over more than one annual administration of the tests administered pursuant to Section 60640 and the high school exit examination administered pursuant to Section 60851, consistent with regulations adopted by the state board.
(4) Any school or school district that does not receive an API calculated pursuant to subparagraph (F) of paragraph (2) shall not receive an API growth target pursuant to subdivision (c). Schools and school districts that do not have an API calculated pursuant to subparagraph (F) of paragraph (2) shall use one of the following:
(A) The most recent API calculation.
(B) An average of the three most recent annual API calculations.
(C) Alternative measures that show increases in pupil academic achievement for all groups of pupils schoolwide and among significant subgroups.
(f) Only schools with 100 or more test scores contributing to the API may be included in the API rankings.
(g) The Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, shall develop an alternative accountability system for schools under the jurisdiction of a county board of education or a county superintendent of schools, community day schools, nonpublic, nonsectarian schools pursuant to Section 56366, and alternative schools serving high-risk pupils, including continuation high schools and opportunity schools. Schools in the alternative accountability system may receive an API score, but shall not be included in the API rankings.
(h) For purposes of this section, county offices of education shall be considered school districts.
(i) For purposes of this section, “homeless youth” has the same meaning as in Section 11434a(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 13, Sec. 31. Effective June 24, 2015.)
(a) Beginning July 1, 2011, in addition to the test scores specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 52052, the Academic Performance Index (API) for a school or school district shall do all of the following:
(1) Include the test scores and other accountability data of enrolled pupils who were referred by the school or school district of residence to an alternative education program, including community, community day, and continuation high schools and independent study, and be calculated by assigning all accountability data on pupils in alternative education programs, including community, community day, and continuation high schools and independent study, to the school and school district of residence to ensure that placement decisions are in the best interests of affected pupils. If a pupil is referred to an alternative education program by a juvenile court judge or other correctional or judicial official, or if the pupil is expelled pursuant to subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 48915, the test scores of that pupil shall remain with the alternative education program and with the school district or county office of education serving that pupil. This section does not prohibit the alternative education program from counting the test scores of those pupils served in their alternative education program. It is the intent of the Legislature that these alternative education programs remain accountable to the pupils they serve.
(2) Exclude the test scores or other data of those pupils exempt pursuant to federal statute or federal regulation.
(3) Include school and school district dropout rates for pupils who drop out of school while enrolled in grade 8 or 9. If reliable data is not available by July 1, 2011, the Superintendent, on or before that date, shall report to the Legislature the reasons for the delay and date he or she anticipates the specified dropout rates will be included in the API.
(b) The advisory committee established pursuant to Section 52052.5 shall recommend to the Superintendent and the state board all of the following:
(1) The length of time for which the accountability data on pupils in alternative education programs shall be assigned to the school and school district of residence pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(2) Whether it is appropriate to assign accountability data to the school or the school district, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), if the pupil never attended the school of residence or has been absent for more than one year from the school district of residence due to placement in another school or school district or out of state.
(c) Before January 30, 2014, the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 52052.5 shall review, and recommend to the Superintendent and the state board any changes proposed for, the assignment of accountability data to the school district of residence pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) based on the addition of Sections 2574, 2575, 42238.02, and 42238.03, and Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 52060) by the act adding this subdivision.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 47, Sec. 96. Effective July 1, 2013.)
(a) As part of the alternative accountability system for schools developed pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 52052, or any successor system, the Superintendent and the state board shall allow no more than 10 dropout recovery high schools, as defined in subdivision (b), to report, in lieu of other indicators, the results of an individual pupil growth model that is proposed by the school and certified by the Superintendent pursuant to subdivision (c).
(b) For purposes of this section, “dropout recovery high school” means a school offering instruction in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in which 50 percent or more of its pupils are either designated as dropouts pursuant to the exit and withdrawal codes developed by the department or left a school and were not otherwise enrolled in a school for a period of at least 180 days and the school provides instruction in partnership with any of the following:
(1) The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2801 et seq.).
(2) Federally affiliated Youthbuild programs (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12899 et seq.).
(3) Federal job corps training or instruction provided pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the federal provider.
(4) The California Conservation Corps or local conservation corps certified by the California Conservation Corps pursuant to Section 14406 or 14507.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(c) A dropout recovery high school shall submit to the Superintendent a certification that the high school meets the criteria specified in subdivision (b) and provide a summary of data derived from the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 60900) of Part 33 to support that designation. A dropout recovery high school shall also submit a proposed individual pupil growth model, and the Superintendent shall review and certify that model if it meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The model measures learning based on valid and reliable nationally normed or criterion-referenced reading and mathematics tests.
(2) The model measures skills and knowledge aligned with state standards.
(3) The model measures the extent to which a pupil scored above an expected amount of growth based on the individual pupil’s initial achievement score.
(4) The model demonstrates the extent to which a school is able to accelerate learning on an annual basis.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 424, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2013. Repealed as of January 1, 2017, by its own provisions.)
(a) The Superintendent shall establish a broadly representative and diverse advisory committee to advise the Superintendent and the state board on all appropriate matters relative to the creation of the Academic Performance Index. Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation for terms not to exceed two years. The department shall provide staff to the advisory panel.
(b) By July 1, 2005, the advisory committee established pursuant to this section shall make recommendations to the Superintendent on the appropriateness and feasibility of a methodology for generating a measurement of academic performance by using unique pupil identifiers for pupils in kindergarten and any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and annual academic achievement growth to provide a more accurate measure of a school’s growth over time. If appropriate and feasible, the Superintendent, with the approval of the state board, shall thereafter implement this measurement of academic performance.
(c) By January 1, 2011, the Superintendent and the state board, in consultation with the advisory committee established pursuant to subdivision (a), shall make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on each of the following:
(1) Approaches to increasing the emphasis of science and mathematics in the calculation of the Academic Performance Index or any successor measure.
(2) Methods to incorporate into the Academic Performance Index, or into other aspects of the state’s accountability system, a measure of the degree to which pupils graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to attain entry-level employment in business or industry, as set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 51228.
(3) Methods to incorporate into the Academic Performance Index, or into other aspects of the state’s accountability system, a measure of the degree to which pupils graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in postsecondary education.
(d) By July 1, 2013, the Superintendent and the state board, in consultation with the advisory committee established pursuant to subdivision (a), shall make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on the establishment of a methodology for generating a measurement of group and individual academic performance growth by utilizing individual pupil results from a longitudinally valid achievement assessment system. These recommendations should also address any interactions between the Academic Performance Index, or any successor measure, and individual test scores from the state’s tests, as well as implications for the reauthorization of the state’s assessment system. This paragraph shall not be construed to supersede the provisions of Chapter 273 of the Statutes of 2009.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 47, Sec. 98. Effective July 1, 2013.)
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, in conducting its responsibilities pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 52052.5, the advisory committee take into consideration the recommendations of the California pilot study conducted pursuant to Provision 10 of Item 6110-113-0890 of the Budget Act of 2007, the statutory and regulatory requirements and related guidance pursuant to the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), and waivers for cohort growth measures approved for other states by the United States Secretary of Education.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 52052.5 also consider measures already in use by other states to facilitate the identification of various performance levels of cohort growth, including, but not limited to, whether each pupil, subgroup, school, and school district made at least one year’s academic growth in one year’s time and whether the amount of academic growth is adequate to reach a performance level of proficient within a timeframe specified in the state’s approved accountability plan required pursuant to the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), and to provide the ability to determine the following with reasonable statistical confidence:
(1) High achievement with a growth rate indicating ability to remain at proficiency or to move into the highest range of achievement.
(2) High achievement with a growth rate indicating ability to remain at least at proficiency.
(3) Low achievement with a growth rate indicating ability to reach proficiency within a specified timeframe.
(4) Low achievement with a growth rate indicating significant inability to reach proficiency within a specified timeframe.
(c) If the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 52052.5 considers a measure of annual academic achievement growth pursuant to Section 52052.5, any measure of annual academic achievement growth by cohort approved in connection with requirements of Section 52052.5 or adopted through a state plan approved by the State Educational Agency pursuant to any provision, or waiver of, the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), or any other plan submitted by the state as a requirement of receiving or allocating federal funds shall:
(1) Utilize a growth model in the public domain that is not proprietary.
(2) Be able to be replicated by an independent statistician.
(3) Be able to be fully and accurately explained, including the generation of all results, the specification of the standard error, and the stringency of the confidence interval used to determine whether the annual change in test scores is statistically significant, in a document available to the public.
(d) The Legislature finds and declares the importance of transparency and full disclosure of the activities and recommendations of the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 52052.5. Therefore, the Legislature requests the advisory committee, in making any notification required by Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to additionally notify in writing the chairpersons of the Committees on Education and on Appropriations of the Senate and Assembly, including, but not limited to, any activities that may be conducted pursuant to subdivision (c).
(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 273, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2010.)
(a) On or before October 1, 2013, the Superintendent shall report to the Legislature and recommend to the state board for adoption a method or methods for increasing the emphasis on pupil mastery of standards in science and social science through the system of public school accountability or by other means.
(b) On or before October 1, 2013, the Superintendent, in consultation with the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 52052.5, shall report to the Legislature an alternative method or methods, in place of decile rank, for determining eligibility, preferences, or priorities for any statutory program that currently uses decile rank as a determining factor.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 577, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2013.)
