 California's Continuation Schools (May 2008)
More than 10% of California’s public high school students attend some kind
of alternative program. This 8-page brief summarizes the initial research
that
examines continuation schools specifically. Free download. READ MORE
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Raising African American Student Achievement: California Goals, Local Outcomes (May 2008)
This 24-page report looks at how California's nearly half-million African American students are doing academically and explores how and where these students are succeeding. The report summarizes state-level trends and looks at varying outcomes across districts and schools. Free download. READ MORE
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NAEP and the California Standards Tests: A Case of Apples and Oranges (May 2008)
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and California Standards Tests (CSTs) appear to offer conflicting reports on the academic performance of California’s students. This 12-page report explores some of the factors that explain why the two tests yield different but valuable portraits of student achievement. READ MORE
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2008 Resource Cards on California Schools (April 2008)
This convenient spiral-bound volume contains the latest data on school finance as well as information on students, teachers, and California's accountability system. (If you experience problems when ordering online, please contact our office directly at 650/917-9481.) READ MORE
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English Learners in California: What the Numbers Say (March 2008)
One in every four public school students in California is designated as an English learner (EL). And nearly one out of every two students lives in a home where the most frequently spoken language is not English. Learn more about the state’s EL population in this report. Free download. READ MORE
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School Finance 2007-08: A Status Quo Budget in a Time of Increased Pressure (December 2007)
This 16-page report offers a comprehensive look at lawmakers’ funding decisions for schools this year and the impact those decisions may have on future budgets. READ MORE
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Superintendents and Principals: Charting the Paths to School Improvement (November 2007)
California's principals and superintendents develop the vision, set the tone, and in the end, are held responsible for improving student achievement in their schools and districts. This report explores the basic responsibilities of these leaders, the challenges they face today, and how well they are prepared and supported in this vital work. READ MORE
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Summary Report: Similar English Learner Students, Different Results:
Why Do Some Schools Do Better? (September 2007)
This extension of the 2005 Similar Students, Different Results study examines how effective the practices that work for all students in a school are for Spanish-speaking English learners. Free download. READ MORE
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Successful Approaches to Helping Students—Including English Learners—Succeed in Elementary School (September 2007)
This parent guide provides questions that parents can ask about their school based on the practices of successful schools. Also in Spanish. Free download. READ MORE
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Enfoques exitosos para ayudar a los estudiantes—incluyendo a los que aprenden inglés—a triunfar en la escuela primaria (September 2007)
(septiembre de 2007)
Esta guía de dos páginas para padres permite que ellos se enteren de algunas prácticas educativas que funcionan correctamente para todos los alumnos de escuela primaria, y en particular los alumnos que aprenden inglés. La guía contiene preguntas que los padres pueden hacer al maestro de sus hijos y al director para ayudarles a entender cual es el enfoque en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de su escuela. Descargue una versión PDF gratis. READ MORE
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California's School Accountability System Under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (August 2007)
This publication describes Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and how it affects California. Updated August 2007. (Available free online.) READ MORE
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Frequently Asked Questions About the No Child Left Behind Act or NCLB (August 2007)
A comprehensive list of questions and answers about the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Updated August 2007. (Available free online.) READ MORE
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Similar English Learner Students, Different Results: Why Do Some Schools Do Better? (May 2007)
This extension of the 2005 Similar Students, Different Results study examines how effective the practices that work for all students in a school are for Spanish-speaking English learners. Free download. READ MORE
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A Glossary of Accountability Terms (February 2007)
This handy, one-page resource is a guide to state and federal accountability programs. Free download. READ MORE
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Quality Education Investment Act embodies a new approach to interventions (February 2007)
The QEIA is California’s latest intervention program to help low-performing schools. This two-page brief explains the selection and funding processes, details the expectations for schools and districts, and discusses implementation issues. Free download. READ MORE
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Worthy Goals, Limited Success: Intervention Programs in California (February 2007)
This EdSource report looks at the history of the state's interventions programs, reviews the evaluations that have been completed, and contrasts those programs with federal requirements including new interventions for school districts. Free download. READ MORE
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The Academic Performance Index (API) (May 2006)
The API is used to compare the performance of California schools and is the centerpiece of the state's accountability program. However, the enactment of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002, caused the API to take a back seat to NCLB’s “adequate yearly progress (AYP)” approach. This publication describes both the API and AYP and explains why the former is still important to California's school accountability system. View free online. READ MORE
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CAHSEE at a Glance (February 2006)
This page lists EdSource resources that provide insight and information on the California High School Exit Exam. READ MORE
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Issues and Actions in California Education Policy: Setting the Stage for 2006 (January 2006)
With the Governor’s annual budget proposal kicking off the state’s 2006 spending deliberations, how much to budget for schools is a key question. This report summarizes policy actions of 2005, and previews issues that promise to be out front this year. READ MORE
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School Accountability Under NCLB: Ambitious Goals and Competing Systems (August 2005)
Two years before the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) became law, California passed its own Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA). Both programs aim to improve student performance, but they differ fundamentally in the way they define school success. The California Department of Education has developed a proposal in which a modified PSAA would serve as California's sole accountability system going forward. This 16-page report describes the proposal, summarizes similarities and differences between PSAA and NCLB, and highlights key related issues. You may download this publication for free or buy it to receive by mail. READ MORE
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Q&A: Holding School Districts Accountable (August 2005)
School district leaders are responsible for making fiscally sound decisions that support the district's and state's goals for student achievement, and for allowing the public to review their decisions at public meetings. This two-page Q&A explains the oversight of districts and how community members can get involved. Free download. READ MORE
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Guide: The State's Official Measures of School Performance (June 2005)
This four-page guide describes the measures state officials use to evaluate schools and school districts. Download it for free, or purchase a copy to receive it in the mail. Also available in Spanish. READ MORE
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California's Middle Grade Students (March 2004)
This EdSource report examines how California's middle grade students are performing against state standards-particularly in algebra. It also discusses the challenges of educating middle grades students and the practices that seem to have the most success in engaging them in school. READ MORE
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Executive Summary: No Child Left Behind in California? (January 2004)
This two-page summary of EdSource's report, No Child Left Behind in California: the impact of the federal NCLB Act so far, highlights the changes California has made in state education policy to comply with NCLB and the impact of those changes on the state's schools. Free download. READ MORE
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No Child Left Behind in California? The impact of the federal NCLB Act so far (January 2004)
This 20-page report offers a broad look at the impacts of No Child Left Behind in California by examining the intent of the law’s major provisions, the federal requirements for compliance, and how California is changing its school improvement and accountability programs in response. Free download. READ MORE
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California’s Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA): Evaluation Findings and Implications (September 2003)
This Evaluation Brief summarizes the main findings and implications of the legislatively mandated, independent evaluation of the Public School Accountability Act. READ MORE
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Video - California's Commitment: Raising Academic Standards for All Students (May 2003)
This 15-minute EdSource video introduces the basics of standards-based reform and accountability systems in a concise and engaging way. Also available in Spanish. READ MORE
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California's Lowest Performing Schools: who they are, the challenges they face, and how they're improving (February 2003)
This timely new publication provides a comprehensive profile of California’s original Decile 1 and 2 schools, as ranked on the Academic Performance Index. Our 24-page report describes the progress these schools have made to improve and explores strategies that may be helping. The findings in our report can help inform policymakers, educators, and the public. READ MORE
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Update: California's Education Reforms (October 2002)
This 16-page report summarizes California's standards-based reform efforts to-date and looks at what's in store, including possible impacts of the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the proposed California Master Plan. Free download. READ MORE
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California Student Achievement: Multiple views of K-12 progress (June 2002)
How well is California doing? Using data and graphs, this 20-page report zeros in on student achievement in areas such as English language arts and mathematics for high school students, and for subgroups such as English learners and children from low-income families. Free download. READ MORE
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Is California on the Right Track? Speakers debate how best to meet rising expectations for K-12 education (May 2002)
This 12-page report summarizes speakers' comments from EdSource's Forum, which examined whether California was moving in the right direction to meet the rising expectations for K–12 education.
To download free now, READ MORE
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California's Student Data System: In Need of Improvement (May 2002)
This four-page EdFact explores the use of longitudinally linked data and how such a system would benefit California.
To download free now, READ MORE
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Developing CSIS: An integrated public school data system (June 2001)
This two-page EdFact looks at CSIS (California School Information Services Program), which was created to assemble, summarize, and safely transmit accurate and reliable student and school data. To download free now, READ MORE
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Aligning California's Education Reforms: Progress Made and the Work That Remains (January 2001)
This 16-page report examines the extent to which California has successfully aligned its standards, curriculum framework and materials, teacher preparation and professional development practices, and student assessment and accountability systems. Free download. READ MORE
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Lining Up Public Schools: California's Academic Performance Index (API) (January 2000)
This eight-page report looks at the nuts and bolts of the new ranking system as well as the potential promise and pitfalls of classifying schools in this way. Free download. READ MORE
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High Schools in the Hot Seat: An Overview of Current Challenges (June 1999)
This 20-page report offers an extensive examination of the challenges currently facing high schools in California. Free download. READ MORE
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