State and Federal Systems

The Test Operations Management System (TOMS) supports administration of California's CAASPP and ELPAC assessments. Authorized district and school staff use it to manage users, student testing information, accessibility settings, and testing operations. It connects local assessment coordination with the state's online testing and reporting services.

Testing coordinators connect student eligibility, accessibility settings, staff permissions, and testing windows. Correct local records help the right students receive the intended assessment and supports. Local source data and the submission or administration record have different owners. Coordinators reconcile the relevant population, dates, and status as the reporting cycle progresses.

The California School Dashboard is the state's public school-accountability reporting site. It presents state and local indicators, including results for student groups where available. District leaders, school teams, and communities use it to examine performance, identify differences among groups, and inform local improvement and planning discussions.

Indicator definitions, reporting years, and student groups shape what a result means. District teams connect public outcomes with local improvement work while recognizing the timing of published data. Published aggregates describe a defined population and time period. Data leaders retain those definitions when comparing results with current local operational records.

The California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) is California's statewide student-level education data system. District and county-office staff submit and certify enrollment, program, course, discipline, staff-assignment, and other required records. These data support state and federal reporting, funding calculations, and accountability measures.

Local student, program, course, and staff information becomes a statewide reporting record through submission and certification. District program owners and data staff coordinate corrections and confirm the reported population. Local operational history and a certified reporting snapshot can differ as records are corrected. Submission dates and reporting definitions explain which version is represented in a state result.

Reporting involves reconciliation and review as well as file transmission. District teams coordinate definitions, corrections, approval, and certification so the submitted population reflects the intended period. The important relationship runs both ways: state validation or reporting questions can require changes to local records and renewed coordination among the departments that originally supplied them.

The Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights' recurring collection of public-school data on educational access and opportunity. District staff compile and submit school- and district-level information on topics such as enrollment, course access, staffing, and discipline for federal civil-rights monitoring.

The collection draws on several departmental records. Common definitions and reporting periods help districts reconcile enrollment, access, staffing, and discipline totals before submission. Local source data and the submission or administration record have different owners. Coordinators reconcile the relevant population, dates, and status as the reporting cycle progresses.

The Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) supports California's administration of school and other child nutrition programs. Participating agencies use the California Department of Education's online system for program applications, reimbursement claims, and related reporting. District nutrition offices coordinate these submissions with their local meal-service records.

Meal counts and local program records feed a separate claims process. Nutrition and business staff reconcile reporting periods, eligible activity, and reimbursement information before submitting agency-level totals. Local source data and the submission or administration record have different owners. Coordinators reconcile the relevant population, dates, and status as the reporting cycle progresses.

The Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) is the California Department of Education's online system for Consolidated Application submissions. Districts, county offices, and eligible charter schools use it to apply for participating state and federal programs and submit required funding, program, and expenditure information.

Program and funding requests draw on financial and student-service information maintained elsewhere. Program managers and business staff reconcile the reporting period, funding source, and expenditure totals before submission. Local source data and the submission or administration record have different owners. Coordinators reconcile the relevant population, dates, and status as the reporting cycle progresses.

DataQuest is the California Department of Education's public reporting system for information about schools and districts. Users select reports by topic, year, and organization to examine enrollment, student groups, staffing, outcomes, and other available measures. District leaders use it for comparisons, planning, and public reporting.

A published measure needs its reporting year, population, and organization to remain meaningful. District analysts compare these public results with local records while allowing for publication timing and definitions. Published aggregates describe a defined population and time period. Data leaders retain those definitions when comparing results with current local operational records.

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) measure English-language proficiency for students whose primary language is other than English. The ELPAC website provides administration guidance, training, practice resources, and links to testing services. District assessment teams use these resources to coordinate identification and annual proficiency assessment.

Language-proficiency assessment intersects with enrollment, identification, accessibility, and program decisions. Assessment coordinators and English-learner staff reconcile student records and testing status across the reporting cycle. Local source data and the submission or administration record have different owners. Coordinators reconcile the relevant population, dates, and status as the reporting cycle progresses.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a national assessment program that reports what students know and can do in selected subjects. Participating schools administer assessments to sampled students. Results describe performance and trends for the nation, states, and participating districts. It does not provide individual student grades.

Sampling and reporting populations determine how results can be interpreted. District leaders use NAEP for broader comparisons, while local student records support participation logistics. Published aggregates describe a defined population and time period. Data leaders retain those definitions when comparing results with current local operational records.

The National Student Clearinghouse provides StudentTracker services that help high schools and districts examine graduates’ subsequent college enrollment and completion. Postsecondary institutions supply enrollment and degree information, which districts use to study cohort outcomes and inform program review.

The handoff connects a district’s graduate cohort with postsecondary enrollment and completion information. Analysts preserve cohort definitions and reporting coverage when interpreting outcomes for school improvement. The graduate cohort is the reference population for analysis. District teams consider reporting coverage and timing when connecting postsecondary information with the local high-school record.

California's Physical Fitness Test uses FITNESSGRAM measures to assess student fitness in designated grade levels. District and school staff coordinate testing, record results, and use the information to review student fitness needs and physical education programs. The California Department of Education publishes administration guidance and resources.

The testing record connects a student, designated grade, administration date, and measured activity. Physical-education and data staff coordinate participation and recording practices so the resulting information can be interpreted consistently. Local source data and the submission or administration record have different owners. Coordinators reconcile the relevant population, dates, and status as the reporting cycle progresses.