1. 1 Accountability Adrift in California Schools November 2015 Greg Moser Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP

2. 2 Death of the High School Exam Required for diploma in California since 2003 Geared to 8 th grade course completion Passage rates gradually increased to 90% Suspended in 2015 Legislation for 2016 requires schools to issue diplomas to students who completed coursework but didn’t pass back to 2003

3. 3 Death of the “old” Academic Performance Index (API) Adopted in 1999 Repealed in 2013 Single simple school ranking up to 1,000, with demographic adjustments and annual “growth targets” based entirely on standardized tests Score of 800 a marker of general proficiency

4. 4 What Are the Stakes? At least 26 programs tied to API: Funding and grants: State Preschool Program; School buildings assessments Program rules: Open enrollment choices, Quality Education Investment Act, Williams Act funding eligibility and priorities, Charter School renewal eligibility Professional development: National Board certification program, Teacher mentoring program

5. 5 What is the replacement program? New API to be “a variety of indicators” including: –Attendance and graduation rates –California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CASPP) To be aligned with Common Core

6. 6 What is the replacement program? (CON’T) But some elements of “approved” curriculum still being considered by State Board of Education (at November 2015 meeting) New API baseline to be set in 2016? But no rubrics from SBE until October 2016 Already delayed once from October 2015

7. 7 What is the replacement program? (CON’T) API may rely no more than 60% on achievement tests for high schools At least 40% to be “valid, reliable and stable measures” of career and postsecondary preparedness for high schools Plus one “wild card” element approved by Superintendent and SBE (Below high school, achievement tests to be at least 60% of API) Dropout recovery schools excluded from API

8. 8 Example of Impact: Charter School Renewals and Revocations “Increases in student achievement for all groups served” is “most important factor” still, but... Old API “deciles” for past 3 years still in statute New API standard of “most recent” being ignored or not relevant Confusion among charter schools, authorizers, State Board and others

9. 9 Example of Impact: Charter School Renewals and Revocations (CON’T) New API law allows “Alternative measures that show increases in pupil academic achievement for all groups of pupils schoolwide” New statute says authorizer “shall consider” revocation after school gets “advice and assistance” of California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, and CCEE finds no improvement or implementation. –No appeal is allowed

10. 10 What Alternative Measures Have Been Offered in the interim? Avance Charter School Measures accepted by SBE: Percent of graduates enrolled in 4 year community or 4 year college compared to Latinos, ELL and IEP students statewide Percent of graduates enrolled in UC or CSU compared to Latinos, ELL and IEP students statewide Persistence in college compared to all other students compared to students statewide and from comparable high schools

11. 11 What Makes a Good School? LA Times Nov. 4, 2015 Editorial urges simplicity, objectivity and statewide standards. (permission for reprint pending)

12. 12 Your turn: What “valid, reliable and stable” measures should be recommended to policy makers?

13. 13 Discussion Greg Moser Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch LLP 525 B Street, Suite 2200 San Diego, CA 92101 greg.moser@procopio.com greg.moser@procopio.com direct dial: (619) 515-3208 www.procopio.com