2026–27 compliance calendar resource · CALPADS-F1-OPEN
CALPADS Fall 1 Submission Window Opens / Census Day
Practical preparation, review, and completion guidance for this Fall 1 milestone.
In plain language: October 7 is both the official opening of the Fall 1 submission window and the statewide Census Day. The Fall 1 data certified later in the cycle describe students and selected program characteristics tied to this snapshot date, along with specified prior-year data.
Why this milestone matters
This is the point at which the LEA moves from preparation into official Fall 1 validation and certification work. Opening day is not a certification deadline, but it establishes the reporting snapshot and starts the period for reconciling local source systems with CALPADS.
Owner and partners
Primary owner: CALPADS Administrator or designated data coordinator. Partners: SIS/data staff, relevant program owners, and special education staff and the SELPA.
What Fall 1 covers
- 2026–27 enrollment counts and enrollment status as of Census Day
- English language acquisition status
- Unduplicated Pupil Count inputs, including free/reduced-price meal eligibility
- Special education data
- 2025–26 dropout data
Recommended LEA workflow
- Confirm Census Day enrollment and status records in the student information system.
- Coordinate CALPADS and special education data ownership with the SELPA.
- Post or refresh required files and review fatal errors, warnings, and certification reports.
- Reconcile aggregate counts to local enrollment, English Learner, meal-eligibility, and special education records.
- Document anomalies and assign owners well before the November 20 zero-error milestone.
Before calling it complete
- Census Day records are frozen or otherwise reproducible locally.
- Submission owners and backup staff are confirmed.
- Known data-quality exceptions have named owners and target dates.
- The team is working from current CALPADS reports, not an earlier local extract.
Official guidance and help
- CDE CALPADS CalendarControlling source for the 2026–27 submission dates, data domains, certification deadlines, and SELPA approval rules.
- CALPADS System DocumentationCurrent file specifications, data guides, report documentation, and operational references.
- CALPADS TrainingOfficial training and learning resources for CALPADS staff.
- CALPADS Contacts and SupportOfficial routes for program questions and CALPADS-CSIS Service Desk assistance.
CALPADS Office:
CALPADS-CSIS Service Desk: · 916-325-9210
Source review completed August 21, 2026. Verify the live CDE calendar and current CALPADS communications before acting.