A new yardstick to measure schools?
Legislation on Brown’s desk would overhaul how California measures academic success
SACRAMENTO — California’s traditional yardstick of success in public schools may be broadened beyond the existing method solely driven by test scores.
Legislation sitting on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk would scrap the state’s reliance on the Academic Performance Index — a measurement that ranks school performance based on a series of standardized exams.
In its place, the state Board of Education would be directed to adopt a more comprehensive set of high school accountability benchmarks that would include graduation rates and career and
What is the API?
The Academic Performance Index measures how students in grades 2 through 11 fare on a series of standardized tests. Among those: reading, history, math and English. The high school exit exam also counts.
The results show the federal government, the state, the school and community the overall progress the school is making toward meeting proficiency targets. Schools are given a score, ranking and growth targets.
How would it change?
Senate Bill 547 would still use standardized test results, but those could account for only 40 percent of the overall yardstick.
Other measurements would include career- and college-readiness and graduation rates. The language of the bill also suggests school districts could adopt some of their own assessment policies.
What’s next?
Gov. Jerry Brown’s deadline to act is Sunday. If he signs the bill, the state Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Public School Accountability Act advisory committee would develop a comprehensive package of recommendations.
The state Board of Education would have until Aug. 1, 2014 to adopt those reforms.
Changes would be in effect for the 2014-15 school year.
