The California Basic Educational Data System, otherwise known as CBEDS, is a system for collecting and sharing demographic data about students, schools, school districts, and classified staff in the California public school system in kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12). The data are collected once a year on the first Wednesday in October, which is designated as “Information Day.”
The data are collected on two different forms. Each district and county office of education completes a form providing information about classified staff, estimated teacher hires, and graduation requirements. Each public school completes a form providing information about classified staff, educational options, technology, educational calendars, parental exception waivers from English-language classrooms, and bilingual paraprofessionals.
School enrollment by grade level, gender, and ethnic designation and graduates, dropouts, and NCLB graduate and dropout data, previously collected through CBEDS, are collected at the individual student level using Statewide Student Identifiers (SSIDs). These data are aggregated up to the school level and then combined with data collected through CBEDS for reporting purposes.
Similarly certificated staff member data by age; ethnic designation; gender; highest education level; years of service; employee status; time base; type of teaching credential; authorized teaching areas; and assignment information, which consists of enrollment, grade level, University of California/California State University requirements, and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) core and compliance data for each course taught, previously collected through CBEDS, are collected at the individual staff level using Statewide Educator Identifiers (SEIDs). These data are also aggregated up to the school level and then combined with data collected through CBEDS for reporting purposes.
CBEDS was originally designed to produce state and federal reports required by the California Education Code and by federal statutes. CBEDS is also used to compute funding for many state programs, including Instructional Materials, Career Technical Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Healthy Start Support Services grants, and the California Technology Assistance Project.
CBEDS data are available to schools, districts, parents, government groups, control agencies, California Department of Education (CDE) staff, the media, and the general public. The public may view data in a variety of formats from the Demographics [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sd/] Web page.
Data are available online through the following methods.
- DataQuest lets users create their own reports of demographic data for public schools, districts, counties, or the state.
- Demographic reports are viewable and show trends in demographic data for California public schools, K–12.
- Demographic data files can be downloaded for California public schools, K–12.
For more information, contact the CALPADS/CBEDS/CDS Operations Office at 916-324-6738 or by e-mail at cbeds@cde.ca.gov. Additional information can be found on the Data and Statistics [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds] Web page.
