Governance
State Board approves student assessment report revisions, community schools framework
Board says goodbye to four veteran members
In a packed one-day meeting on Jan. 12, the State Board of Education approved several revisions to the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California student score reports, as well as a California Community Schools Partnership Program Framework and more.

The meeting was also the last for long-time members Ting Sun, Patricia Rucker, Sue Burr and Vice President Ilene W. Straus. Their departure was met with heartfelt messages from former Gov. Jerry Brown, who had appointed all four, Board President Linda Darling-Hammond and others.

The implications of the California Department of Education’s release of 2020–21 assessment data, which included student outcomes on the CAASPP and various other tests, were discussed. Just 25 percent of students took the 2020–21 state assessments, as many districts remained in distance learning until late spring 2020. However, the results of their locally administered tests that met specific criteria approved by the board generally show similar findings, according to a WestEd analysis.

“This is transformational… and I want to use $3 billion thoughtfully to make the impact that was intended for this program.
Ilene W. Straus, Vice President of the State Board of Education
CDE staff reported that the low participation rate makes it impossible to meaningfully measure student growth or compare results. The department has released an interpretation guide for the available data.

The board approved revisions to the 2021–22 CAASPP and ELPAC student score reports to reflect the most recent updates to test administration and ensure that crucial information regarding student performance is communicated clearly. Among the key changes is the removal of school and state averages from the CAASPP score reports for the current exams. Because state testing was suspended in 2019–20 and testing volumes were significantly lower than usual in 2020–21, these administration years do not provide a meaningful measure from which to compare 2021–22 statewide student performance, according to CDE staff.

Forging ahead on community schools

Taking the next step toward expanding the community school model statewide, the board approved the proposed California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) Framework, which details the key roles and responsibilities of local, county, regional and state partners; best practices; four cornerstone commitments and more.

While board members applauded the work that has taken place, Straus said more clarity is needed. The intent is there, she said, “but this is transformational … and I want to use $3 billion thoughtfully to make the impact that was intended for this program.”

Community schools are known for providing resources such as medical and dental care, as well as mental and behavioral health services, but the model hinges on a combination of academics with a wide range of vital in-house services, supports and opportunities that are integral to promoting children’s learning and overall development. Community schools prioritize strategic structures for integrating academics and collaborative leadership with youth and community development, health and social services, and community engagement in alignment with the goals and values of California’s Multi-Tiered System of Support to organize campuses around the academic, behavioral, social-emotional and mental health needs of students.

The CCSPP needs to be “a coherent, aligned program so that this is not another categorical layer that sits on top,” Straus said. “It doesn’t feel there yet.”

The 2021–22 Budget Act provides approximately $3 billion for the CCSPP to establish new, and expand existing, community schools. At its Nov. 3–4 meeting, the board approved the application process and administration plan for the CCSPP, established in 2020 with the first round of grants — $45 million in funding to existing community school initiatives — awarded in spring of 2021. Following the recommendation of CDE staff, the board approved at its Jan. 12 meeting several amendments to the administration plan related to the timeline and regional technical assistance centers’ request for applications and contract processes.

Read a complete summary of the meeting at http://blog.csba.org/sbe-report-jan-2022. The next State Board meeting is scheduled for March 9–10, 2022.