Step 1: Register as a SARC Coordinator.
To ensure timely receipt of important SARC information, register or update your contact information as a SARC Coordinator on the California Department of Education's (CDE) Accountability Report Card Listserv Web page. The CDE will provide a user ID and password to the registered SARC Coordinators via e-mail. If you register or update your SARC Coordinator information after the 2011-12 SARC information has been made available, and you want a user ID and password, please send an e-mail request to sarc@cde.ca.gov.
Step 2: Become familiar with the SARC Web pages.
Read and become thoroughly familiar with the content found on the 2011–12 SARC Web pages. In particular, the following links will provide valuable background information and will answer most of the questions you have as you are completing the SARC:
- 2011–12 SARC Template in Word (DOC)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- SARC Legislation
- Data Element Definitions (DOC)
- Williams Settlement and the SARC
Step 3: Prepare the SARCs.
Using the user ID and password noted in step 1 above, each SARC Coordinator can access and download a pre-populated SARC for each public school from the Ed-Data
SARC Web site.
Another option is to manually prepare the SARC for each school using the blank SARC template found on the CDE 2011–12 SARC Web page. Separate downloadable statewide data files compiled from data the CDE maintains are available on this Web page.
Both options require LEAs to populate specific SARC sections with local information. The SARC template lists which sections the LEA populates. While the CDE provides data where data are available, LEAs are responsible for the accuracy of the SARC data made available to the public.
Step 4: Post SARCs to the district or school Web site.
The intention of the SARC program is to make SARCs easily available for parents. After SARCs are locally prepared and approved by the local governing board, LEAs must post the SARCs to the Internet. The CDE recommends that LEAs post a SARC on each school's Web site.
Step 5: Provide the CDE with the Web site link to the SARCs.
Provide the CDE with the school Web site address where links to individual SARCs are located. Submit the SARC Web links via the CDE Update Your SARC Web Site Link Web page. The CDE does not collect or maintain electronic or paper copies of individual SARCs.
Step 6: Notify parents about the SARC.
Notify parents about the availability of the SARC. Provide instructions about how the SARC can be obtained both through the Internet and on paper (upon request). The CDE recommends that schools have copies of the SARC available in the school office and at public forums, such as parent information events.
