Eureka, CA — The California Department of Education released the 2024 California School Dashboard on November 21. The Dashboard provides educators and families with information on school and district progress in improving student learning and outcomes.
An initial review of the Dashboard shows that districts across Humboldt County have experienced improvement in chronic absenteeism rates. Chronic absenteeism was substantially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related school closures. Districts, schools, communities, and the County Office of Education have all focused on understanding the root causes of chronic absenteeism rates. They have implemented strategies and practices to encourage higher rates of attendance, the success of which is reflected in this year’s dashboard.
The Dashboard is used to identify districts eligible to receive additional outside support for improvement in the form of Differentiated Assistance (DA). Of the 15 Humboldt County districts identified based on the 2023 Dashboard, seven districts made significant improvements and rose above the eligibility requirements for DA based on the 2024 Dashboard. Other districts that continued to qualify for additional support also made gains, but there are still areas identified for growth. The Dashboard is also used to identify which schools will be eligible for Comprehensive Support and Improvement and Targeted Support and Improvement, federal programs that will make determinations early in 2025.
“These improvements reflect Humboldt County educators’ ongoing efforts to support student success and well-being,” said Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools Michael Davies–Hughes. “We remain committed to analyzing the data and making informed decisions to continue this positive trajectory. Through our focus on educating the whole child, we should expect to see continued improvements in student outcomes over the next several years.”
Beginning this year, the Dashboard also reports science academic data alongside English-Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The indicator is based on student achievement on state tests, using a similar methodology as ELA and mathematics but different scales. Since this is the first year that science is included in the dashboard, the data will not be used to determine eligibility for DA.
It is important to note that the California School Dashboard is not set up to allow easy comparisons between districts, nor does it display aggregated data for all students in the county. Rather, it is best used by districts, schools, and their communities to understand how their students are doing across multiple measures and identify opportunities to improve student outcomes. Districts will engage with their communities in this process and reflect the new understandings and priorities in their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs).
The Humboldt County Office of Education will continue to study the data to tailor its support for districts and charter schools and provide accessible information for schools and communities.
Explore the California School Dashboard and other descriptive information to learn more.
Contact:
Janice Lourenzo, Director School Support and Accountability, HCOE, jlourenzo@hcoe.org 707-445-7082