Dashboard Communications Toolkit

Informational materials that help explain the data reported on the California School Dashboard.

Overview

The 2026 California School Dashboard (Dashboard) is California’s accountability system with the reporting of Status (current year data), Change (the difference from prior year data), and Performance Levels (colors). The resources below have been updated for the 2026 Dashboard, which will be published on October 15, 2026 to ensure parents, community members, and educators can gain a better understanding of the information available.

Flyers for Parents (and Those New to the Dashboard) | Flyers for Educators | On-Demand Recordings and Notetaking Guides | Additional Resources | Archive

Flyers for Parents (and Those New to the Dashboard)

Start your learning journey with these one-to-two-page flyers that help simplify the use and understanding of the 2026 Dashboard.

Getting to Know the California School Dashboard (Coming October 2026)
Getting to Know the Dashboard State Measures (Coming October 2026)
How Dashboard Colors are Determined (PDF)
How to View Performance of a School or District on the Dashboard (Coming October 2026)
Exploring the Equity Report (PDF)
How to Compare Schools on the Dashboard (Coming October 2026)
Getting to Know the Local Measures (Coming October 2026)
Information on Local Measures for Parents (Coming October 2026)

Translated flyers are available on the Translations web page.

Flyers for Educators

User-friendly flyers that help enhance your general knowledge of the Dashboard state indicators.

State Indicator Flyers

What Data Will Be Used for the 2025 Dashboard (Coming October 2026)
English Language Arts and Mathematics Indicators (PDF)
- English Learner Students in the Academic Indicators (Coming October 2026)
- Information on the Participation Rate (Coming October 2026)
  - Translated Versions of Information on the Participation Rate Flyer
Chronic Absenteeism Indicator (Coming October 2026)
College/Career Indicator (PDF)
- Measures of Readiness (PDF)
English Learner Progress Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Summative Alternative English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) Incorporation in the English Learner Progress Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) Participation Rate (Coming October 2026)
- Long-Term English Learner Students on the California School Dashboard (Coming October 2026)
- English Learner Students on the California School Dashboard (PDF)
Graduation Rate (PDF)
Suspension Rate (PDF)
Science Indicator (Coming October 2026)
English Language Arts and Mathematics Growth (Coming October 2026)

State and Federal Assistance Information

Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Assistance (Coming October 2026) – Understand the eligibility criteria for differentiated assistance under the Local Control Funding Formula.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) School Assistance (Coming October 2026) – Understanding the eligibility and exit criteria for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) - Low Graduation Rate, CSI - Low Performing, and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) under the ESSA

Amendments

District of Residence Rule (PDF) – The District of Residence rule (also known as the District of Special Education Accountability) is a rule relating to students with disabilities and applied to all state indicators. Download this flyer to learn more.
Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) 1-Year Graduation Rate (Coming October 2026) - A one-page document explaining the DASS graduation rate and the data used to calculate it.
What is the 3x5 Colored Table? (PDF)

On Demand Dashboard Sessions

This section will provide current PowerPoint recordings, and associated Notetaking Guides, that cover state and local indicators about the Dashboard.

Recording 1: Dashboard 101 (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 1 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 2: Academic Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 2 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 3: Chronic Absenteeism Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 3 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 4: College/Career Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 4 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 5: English Learner Progress Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 5 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 6: Graduation Rate Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 6 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 7: Suspension Rate Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 7 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 8: Science Indicator (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 8 (Coming October 2026)
Recording 9: Local Indicators (Coming October 2026)
- Notetaking Guide for Recording 9 (Coming October 2026)

Additional Resources

Individualized web pages focusing on state and local indicators are easily accessible through the following links:

Five-by-Five Colored Tables – The accountability system combines five Status and five Change levels creating a five-by-five placement grid which is used to identify the performance color for the Dashboard.

Dashboard Technical Guide – Access the latest calculation formulas and business rules used to calculate the Dashboard state indicators.

Dashboard Technical Guide for Parents (Coming October 2026) – Information to help parents access, navigate and understand the California School Dashboard.

Dashboard Resources - An extensive selection of resources relating to the California School Dashboard for parents, educators, and communities.

System of Support – Information and resources on California's system to support districts and schools to help meet the needs of their students.

School Dashboard Additional Reports – These multiple supplementary reports offer additional data and insight to the Dashboard results.

2026 Connecting the Dashboard to CALPADS Reports (PDF) – Use this flyer to verify your California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) data before it is used for the Dashboard.

Downloadable State and Local Indicator Data Files – Access local educational agency (LEA), school, and student group data statewide results for all state indicators as well as local indicator data submitted to the Dashboard by LEAs.

Aligned Dashboard and Assessment Data Release Flyer (PDF) - Information about the 2026 aligned release with resources.