Category: Achievement

Analysis of School Dashboard points to a need for state-level accountability

The California Department of Education released the latest edition of the California School Dashboard on Nov. 13, touting a “continued increase in academic achievement and graduation rates” and a “reduction in chronic absenteeism.” While some growth was evident, a look at the underlying data reveals a more complicated picture of student performance — one that demands greater scrutiny of the status quo, increased investment in public schools, and a commitment to reducing achievement gaps by accelerating achievement, particularly for the state’s most vulnerable students.  

Report sheds light on how state and local policymakers can better support Native American students

Native American Heritage Month, observed each November, serves as a reminder to local educational agencies to examine whether or not current policies, curriculum and more are contributing to ensuring schools are genuinely recognizing, respecting and nurturing Native American students. To support such efforts, the ACLU […]

California continues progress toward ensuring low-income youth are able to financially pursue higher education or job training

More than 260,000 California second graders started this school year with scholarship funds that will continue to grow during their K-12 journey to ultimately help them prepare for college and career training. The California Kids Investment and Development Savings (CalKIDS) program, launched in 2022, is […]

Puente Project significantly improves college-going rate

The Puente Project is a national award-winning program that has improved the college-going rate of tens of thousands of California’s educationally underrepresented students since 1981. Its mission is to increase the number of underrepresented students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities, earn college degrees […]

CSBA webinar covers CAASPP results, advocates for comprehensive state-level plan to increase support for LEAs in their work to close achievement gap

An Oct. 9 webinar hosted by CSBA featured initial analysis of results from the 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and CSBA issuing a challenge to the state to create a state-level plan focused on what state agencies and policymakers will do differently to better support local educational agencies in closing the achievement gap.

New report identifies legislative trends targeting student data

Hundreds of bills aimed at ensuring that students, families and policymakers have access to the secure, timely information needed to navigate and understand education systems and the workforce were introduced across the country in 2025, according to Data Quality Campaign’s (DQC) latest report, Education and […]

Improving outcomes for students with disabilities begins with assessment

Despite decades of advocacy, students with disabilities often face significant gaps in educational outcomes. If local educational agencies aim to turn things around for this student group, WestEd experts suggest starting with supportive, coherent and effective assessment systems. An Aug. 14 webinar featured panelists discussing […]