Report 2011-117 All Recommendation Responses

Report 2011-117: High School Graduation and Dropout Data: California's New Database May Enable the State to Better Serve Its High School Students Who Are at Risk of Dropping Out (Release Date: March 2012)

Recommendation #1 To: Education, Department of

To increase consistency, the department should remind schools and school districts of the importance of aligning their procedures for recording pupil enrollment and exit data with the CALPADS Data Guide
.

6-Month Agency Response

According to the department, it distributes a letter to local educational agencies every fall with a reminder of the upcoming data collection cycle. On September 14, 2012, the department issued correspondence to all school district superintendents, county office superintendents, and charter school administrators reminding them of the importance of reporting data accurately and directing them to guidance on data submission available on the department's Web site at www.cde.ca.gov/calpads, under the System Documentation link. (See 2013-406, p. 59)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #2 To: Education, Department of

To improve efficiency, the department should inform school districts of the value of frequently updating the data they transfer from their local student information systems to CALPADS. Also, to the extent that departments become aware of ways that schools and school districts can perform CALPADS-related activities more efficiently, it should provide written guidance to schools and school districts on these best practices.

6-Month Agency Response

In correspondence issued on September 14, 2012, the department reminded school districts that data is used for multiple purposes throughout the year and emphasized the importance of updating the data school districts' transfer from their local student information systems to CALPADS. According to the department, if it becomes aware of new efficiencies for performing CALPADS-related activities, it will update existing guidance that is available on the department's Web site accordingly. (See 2013-406, p. 60)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

Recommendation #3 To: Education, Department of

To improve the utility of CALPADS and fulfill the legislative intent of the system, the department should work with the Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the governor to identify priorities for building upon the system when funding is available. These priorities could include tracking student participation in dropout prevention programs or strategies to measure the effectiveness of those programs or strategies over time.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015

Education considers this recommendation fully implemented. On February 24, 2012, Education met with the Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the Governor's Office and determined that the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) would remain on track for full implementation. No additional priorities have been identified and no additional funding has been appropriated to include a new data tracking or program measurement strategies. Although the recommendation of identifying foster youth to track progress through graduation/dropout data is supported, existing budget language specifically restricts Education from adding additional data elements to CALPADS.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Resolved

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014

Education considers this recommendation fully implemented. On February 24, 2012, Education met with the Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the Governor's Office and determined that CALPADS would remain on track for full implementation. No additional priorities have been identified and no additional funding has been appropriated to include any new data tracking or program measurement strategies. Although the addition of identifying foster youth to track progress through graduation/dropout data is being supported, existing budget language specifically restricts Education from adding any additional data elements to CALPADS.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

As indicated in Education's response, existing budget language specifically restricts Education from adding any additional data elements to CALPADS. Thus, it is not currently feasible for Education to build upon the system and fully implement our recommendation. However, to the extent the budget language is revised in the future, and when funding is available, we believe Education should take steps to implement our recommendation.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013

The Governor and the Legislature have made clear their priorities for building upon CALPADS.

The Governor has placed a moratorium on expanding CALPADS through the following budget language, "As a further condition of receiving these funds, the SDE shall not add additional data elements to CALPADS, require local educational agencies to use the data collected through the CALPADS for any purpose, or otherwise expand or enhance the system beyond the data elements and functionalities that are identified in the most current approved Feasibility Study and Special Project Reports and the CALPADS Data Guide v1.2."

The Legislature made clear their priorities for CALPADS by addressing attendance, chronic absenteeism, and an early warning system for students at risk of dropping out. These priorities are reflected in Education Code Section 60901.

As stipulated in Education Code, Section 60901, upon the receipt of federal funds intended for this specific purpose, Education will enhance CALPADS to include data over attendance and chronic absenteeism.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement

As indicated in Education's response, the Governor has placed a moratorium on expanding CALPADS. Thus, it is not currently feasible for Education to build upon the system and fully implement our recommendation. However, to the extent the moratorium is lifted in the future, and when funding is available, we believe Education should take steps to implement our recommendation.

6-Month Agency Response

The department stated that it has engaged stakeholders, including State Board of Education staff and legislative staff, regarding how CALPADS can be used now and in the future. However, according to the department, existing budget language specifically restricts the department from adding any additional data elements to CALPADS at this time. Therefore, the department stated that the discussions it has held with stakeholders have been related to how currently collected data might be used and how CALPADS may be further utilized if additional funding becomes available and budget language is changed to be less restrictive. (See 2013-406, p. 60)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

All Recommendations in 2011-117

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.