Thursday, February 18, 2010

Admitting problems, state extends CalPADS reporting deadlines

Admitting problems, state extends CalPADS reporting deadlines:

"Admitting problems, state extends CalPADS reporting deadlines

PUBLISHED:�FEBRUARY 16, 2010
The California Department of Education is giving local educational agencies more time to file required data as state officials spend the next two months working to resolve “unacceptable performance issues” with the state’s complex California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System.

In a Feb. 11 letter to superintendents and charter school administrators, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell conceded publicly what many beleaguered LEAs have been saying privately for months: CalPADS is not working for many users—making it impossible for many of them to submit required data and eating up hours of staff time in the effort.

O’Connell said he has directed IBM—the state’s CalPADS contractor—and state CalPADS staff to conduct a thorough “top to bottom” review of the system “to correct all deficiencies and ensure that the system performs efficiently.”

In addition, O’Connell said, the state has taken a number of steps to support LEAs that are struggling with the system, including indefinitely extending data submission deadlines and subsequent state certification of the numbers:"