Geoff Belleau

This Strategic Plan outlines the California Department of Education's mission to promote equity and educational excellence for all students, aiming to empower them for lifelong success in an interconnected world. The plan is driven by three critical strategic priorities: accelerating achievement for all, building healthy and safe learning environments, and preparing students for bright futures. To achieve these, the CDE focuses on objectives such as holding Local Educational Agencies accountable, building local capacity, expanding teacher recruitment and development, leveraging technology, increasing administrative efficiency, fostering strong home-school-community resources, advocating for additional resources, and improving internal business systems. Additionally, it highlights key initiatives including community schools, a statewide literacy campaign, universal prekindergarten, Black student achievement, closing the digital divide, professional learning for teachers, mental health support, universal meals, antibias education, and expanded learning programs.

The California State Board of Education is considering revisions to the reporting achievement level descriptors (ALDs) for the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics and the California Science Test (CAST). Focus groups were conducted to gather feedback on proposed changes to the ALDs and labels, with participants suggesting clearer and more straightforward language. The proposed revisions aim to improve understanding of student achievement without impacting the comparability of assessment results from year to year. If approved, the California Department of Education (CDE) will update Student Score Reports (SSRs), communications, training materials, and relevant web pages.

The California State Board of Education is considering the petition for the renewal of the charter for Altus Schools South Bay. The California Department of Education recommends that the board grant the renewal for a term of five years, beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2030, with two technical amendments. The first amendment involves revising the student discipline policy to remove willful defiance as a reason for suspension. The second amendment concerns the enrollment process, ensuring that the Home Language Survey is administered upon a student's initial enrollment in a California public school. The Advisory Commission on Charter Schools also supports the renewal with these amendments.

The California State Board of Education meeting agenda includes discussions on the implementation of the Integrated Local, State, and Federal Accountability and Continuous Improvement System. Key topics include a review of new and existing College/Career Indicator measures, options for adopting growth model performance categories, analysis of the Long-Term English Learner student group, options for incorporating the Science Indicator, a Priority 1 Teacher Data Update, and an overview of Dashboard Alternative School Status criteria. The board will provide guidance on the 2025 Accountability Workplan.

The California State Board of Education is considering requests from four local educational agencies (LEAs) to waive the requirement for a minimum of 20 school days for extended school year (ESY) programs for students with disabilities. Each LEA proposes an alternate schedule with fewer days but a comparable number of instructional hours. The CDE recommends approval with conditions, ensuring school day hours are consistent with general education and that special education services are comparable in standards, scope, and quality to the regular academic year. The LEAs include Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools, Greenfield Union School District, Red Bluff Union Elementary School District, and El Monte City School District.