State and Federal Systems

Smarter Balanced is a public agency currently supported by 15 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Through the work of thousands of educators, they created an online assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as tools for educators to improve teaching and learning. Smarter Balanced is housed at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education & Information Studies (GSE&IS).  TOMS is the abbreviated name for the Test Operations Management System, which CAASPP uses to manage the delivery of the four online tests to students in grades 3,4,5,6,7,8, and 11 each year.

California’s new accountability and continuous improvement system provides information about how local educational agencies and schools are meeting the needs of California’s diverse student population based on a concise set of measures.

California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data Systems (CALPADS) is a data system used to maintain individual level data including student demographics, course data, discipline, assessments, staff assignments, and other data for state and federal reporting.

The California Basic Educational Data System (CBEDS) is an annual data collection administered in October. CBEDS data are reported through an Online Reporting Application called CBEDS-ORA. The purpose of CBEDS is to collect data about schools and districts, as well as some aggregate data on students and staff. There are two separate forms used to collect these data. The County/District Information Form (CDIF) is used to collect data specific to districts and county offices on the number of classified staff and estimated number of teacher hires. The School Information Form (SIF) is used to collect data specific to schools on the number of classified staff, kindergarten program type, educational calendars, parental exception waivers, truancy, and School Improvement Grant information. Student aggregate counts (i.e., graduates, dropouts, and various enrollment data) previously collected on the SIF and certificated staff, course and assignment data previously collected on the Professional Assignment Information Form (PAIF) have been transitioned to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). 

The Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is a biennial (i.e., every other school year) survey required by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Since 1968, the CRDC has collected data on key education and civil rights issues in our nation's public schools for use by OCR in its enforcement and monitoring efforts regarding equal educational opportunity. The CRDC is also a tool for other Department offices and federal agencies, policymakers and researchers, educators and school officials, and the public to analyze student equity and opportunity.

California Child Nutrition Information & Payment System (CNIPS).     The CNIPS is the California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division's (NSD) Web-based system for administering the federal and state nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and Breakfast, Food Distribution, Special Milk, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service, and Seamless Summer Feeding Option Programs.

The Consolidated Application (ConApp) is used by the California Department of Education (CDE) to distribute categorical funds from various state and federal programs to county offices, school districts, and direct-funded charter schools throughout California. Annually, in May, each local educational agency (LEA) submits the spring release of the application to document participation in these programs and provide assurances that the district will comply with the legal requirements of each program. Program entitlements are determined by formulas contained in the laws that created the programs.

DataQuest is a dynamic system developed and maintained by the California Department of Education (CDE) that provides reports about California’s schools and school districts. It contains a wide variety of information including school performance indicators, student and staff demographics, expulsion, suspension, and truancy information and a variety of test results. Data are presented so that users can easily compare schools, districts and counties. 

The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) Web site serves as the portal for resources that a local educational agency will need to administer the ELPAC.

A subject-specific content framework, developed by the National Assessment Governing Board, provides the theoretical basis for each assessment, and describes the types of questions that should be included, and how they should be designed and scored. Frameworks describe a range of content and thinking skills needed by students to deal with the complex issues they encounter inside and outside their classrooms.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides reports for high school districts to accurately analyze the postsecondary success of their high school graduates and make programmatic changes based upon what they learn through their Student Tracker System. The Clearinghouse does not survey students but obtains student data directly from college and university officers responsible for keeping track of enrollments and degrees. All Institutions participate with the Clearinghouse voluntarily. The 3600 institutions typically send to NSC their complete student enrollment list every month so the data is current and constantly updated. 

Calfornia public school students in grades five, seven, and nine are required to take the PFT, whether or not they are enrolled in a physical education class or participate in a block schedule. These students include those enrolled in local educational agencies (LEAs) such as elementary, high, and unified school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. LEAs must also test all students in alternate programs, including, but not limited to, continuation schools, independent study, community day schools, county community schools, and nonpublic schools. Students who are physically unable to take the entire test battery are to be given as much of the test as his or her condition will permit. 

School Accountability Report Card (SARC) is a way to report how a school is doing to the community. California public & nonpublic, nonsectarian schools annually provide information to the community to allow public comparison of schools for student achievement, environment, resources & demographics. Since November 1988, state law has required all public schools receiving state funding to prepare and distribute a SARC. A similar requirement is also contained in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The purpose of the report card is to provide parents and the community with important information about each public school. A SARC can be an effective way for a school to report on its progress in achieving goals. The public may also use a SARC to evaluate and compare schools on a variety of indicators.

Used by California High Schools to submit course syllabi for UC/CSU approval (e.g. completion of the course would satisfy one of the A-G requirements.