CALPADS Technical Assistance

Legislation

Assembly Bill (AB) 126 (Chapter 65, Statutes of 2026) updates the statutory framework for technical assistance (TA) related to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). AB 126 amended Education Code (EC) sections 52071 and 52071.5 and added EC sections 52071.1 and 52071.51, reinforcing that districts and county offices of education (COEs) that do not meet CALPADS data submission requirements shall receive TA focused on data management processes, the timely certification of complete and accurate data, and local capacity to improve data practices.

California EC 60900(f) continues to require local educational agencies (LEAs) to submit data to the California Department of Education (CDE) according to the processes and timelines established by the CDE. This includes submitting accurate and complete CALPADS data by each certification deadline.

Under AB 126, CALPADS-related technical assistance is aligned with the broader statewide system of support. For school districts, EC Section 52071.1 requires the county superintendent of schools to provide TA focused on the district’s data management processes for a minimum of 1 year. For COEs, EC Section 52071.51 requires the CDE to provide technical assistance, for a minimum of one year, focused on the COE’s data management processes and capacity to develop and implement actions and services responsive to pupil and community needs.

Eligibility Criteria for CALPADS Technical Assistance

AB 126 (Chapter 65, Statutes of 2026) created separate TA requirements for school districts (EC Section 52071.1) and COEs (EC Section 52071.51) that do not meet the requirements of EC Section 60900(f). The updated framework emphasizes TA rather than a DA designation alone and connects the support to accurate, complete, and timely CALPADS reporting.

Pursuant to California EC sections 52071.1 and 52071.51, districts and COEs (excluding charter schools) that do not submit CALPADS data according to CDE-established processes and timelines, or that are identified with CALPADS data quality issues, may be eligible for TA focused on improving data management processes, including the submission of timely and accurate data. While charter schools are not specified in this CALPADS TA requirement, districts and COEs are encouraged to support charter schools in certifying accurate data in a timely manner.

Any LEA that fails to certify a required CALPADS data submission by the final certification deadline for Fall 1, Fall 2, EOY 1, or EOY 2 is eligible for CALPADS TA. Eligibility is also based on data quality.

Each year, the CDE identifies or is notified by LEAs that have certified inaccurate and/or incomplete CALPADS data after the close of a CALPADS collection window. In many cases, the CDE identifies data that appear inconsistent with historical trends or are otherwise anomalous. The CDE follows up with LEAs to better understand these discrepancies and determine whether the reported data accurately reflects the LEA's circumstances.

When an LEA provides information indicating that its CALPADS data were reported incorrectly, incompletely, or inaccurately, this constitutes a data quality issue. The CDE will use such instances as a basis for determining eligibility for CALPADS TA related to data quality.

Specifically, an LEA may be eligible for CALPADS TA when information provided by the LEA indicates that the data reported were inaccurate or incomplete. This includes information provided in response to CDE inquiries regarding anomalous or inconsistent data, as well as any other communication that informs the CDE that data were reported incorrectly. When the CDE identifies an LEA as TA eligible based on data quality concerns, the LEA will be included on the subsequent year’s CALPADS TA eligibility list posted on the CDE’s website.

Data Submission Best Practices

To support best practices around data management, submission, verification, and certification, the CDE publishes target dates by which LEAs should have zero fatal errors prior to the certification deadlines for each CALPADS submission. The CDE strongly encourages LEAs to meet these zero fatal error target dates to ensure that LEA staff and leadership have sufficient time to review their data, make any necessary corrections, and certify accurate data by the final certification deadlines.

CALPADS Submission and Data Quality Issues

The CALPADS Submission and Data Quality Issues data file is forthcoming. This file will provide the CALPADS TA status for COEs, LEAs, and charter schools that did not submit complete, timely, and/or accurate CALPADS data according to the processes and timelines established by the CDE.

Resources

Universal Supports Toolkit

Together, the CDE and California School Information Services (CSIS) have created a Universal Supports Toolkit to serve as a proactive universal support for all LEAs, regardless of whether they are eligible for CALPADS TA. This toolkit can also serve as a remediation plan template for use when any district or COE becomes eligible for CALPADS TA. The toolkit includes:

• A data management needs assessment.
• A root cause analysis template to address reasons for any district or COE that becomes eligible for CALPADS TA.
• A data management practices evaluation tool.
• Ideas for integrating goals and objectives into local accountability practices which address the reason(s) a district or COE became eligible for CALPADS TA.
  

CALPADS Calendar

The CDE CALPADS Calendar web page includes CALPADS data submission windows, certification deadlines, and recommended milestone dates by which LEAs should have zero fatal errors to meet certification deadlines.

System of Support

The CDE System of Support web page includes a link to LEA Criteria for Assistance. This web page is maintained by the CDE's Analysis, Measurement & Accountability Reporting Division (AMARD).

California’s Statewide System of Support exists to help LEAs and their schools meet the needs of each student they serve, with a focus on building local capacity to sustain improvement and to effectively address disparities in opportunities and outcomes. The CDE California's Statewide System of Support web page is maintained by the CDE's Student Achievement and Support Division (SASD).