This glossary defines key terms shown on the school, local educational agency (LEA), or state Content Area Weights section of the 2005 Academic Performance Index (API) Base Report, which is part of the 2005–06 Accountability Progress Reporting (APR) system. Terms described below are listed in the order in which they appear on this section of the 2005 API Base Report .
State Accountability: Academic Performance Index (API)
State legislation, the Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA) of 1999 (Chapter 3, Statutes of 1999), established the Academic Performance Index (API), which summarizes a school's or local educational agency's (LEA) academic performance and progress on statewide assessments. The API also is used as an additional indicator for federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. (An LEA is a school district or county office of education.)
Test Weights (Grades Two Through Eight or Grades Nine Through Twelve)
Test Weights are fixed weights, established by the State Board of Education (SBE) as the weights for each tested content area used in the API. Test Weights reflect the amount of emphasis given to each test type and content area used in the API calculation and are applied to test results at the student level. Test Weights are shown as decimals and are the same for the API Base and API Growth within an API reporting cycle. The SBE adopted separate Test Weights for grades two through eight and for grades nine through twelve.
Test Weights
Grade Levels Two Through Eight
| Content Area | 2005–06 API Test Weights |
|---|---|
| CST in English-Language Arts | 0.480 |
| CST in Mathematics | 0.320 |
| CST in Science | 0.200 |
| CST in History-Social Science | 0.200 |
| CAT/6 Survey in Reading | 0.060 |
| CAT/6 Survey in Language | 0.030 |
| CAT/6 Survey in Spelling | 0.030 |
| CAT/6 Survey in Mathematics | 0.080 |
CST=California Standards Test
CAT/6 = California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition Survey
Note: The test weights shown in this table do not reflect the specific content area weights
for a particular school, which will vary based upon these weights and the number of
valid
test scores in each content area. Test weights do not total 1.00.
Test Weights
Grade Levels Nine Through Twelve
| Content Area | 2005–06 API Test Weights |
|---|---|
| CST in English-Language Arts | 0.300 |
| CST in Mathematics | 0.200 |
| CST in Science | 0.150 |
| CST in History-Social Science | 0.225 |
| CAHSEE in English-Language Arts | 0.300 |
| CAHSEE in Mathematics | 0.300 |
CST = California Standards Test
CAHSEE = California High School Exit Examination
Note: The test weights shown in this table do not reflect the specific content area weights
for a particular school, which will vary based upon these weights and the number of
valid
test scores in each content area. Test weights do not total 1.00.
Valid Scores
This item is the number of students in the school or LEA tested in the 2005 STAR Program less any mobile students who were not continuously enrolled in the school or LEA since the 2004 CBEDS data collection date to the date of STAR Program testing. This item on the State Report includes all students regardless of mobility.
Weight x Scores
This item is the product of Test Weights multiplied by Valid Scores.
Content Area Weights
Content Area Weights are the weights for each tested content area for a particular school, an LEA, or the state. Content Area Weights are based on the Test Weights, established by the State Board of Education, and the number of valid test scores for each test type. Content Area Weights are not needed in calculating an API but are provided on the API reports for information only.
