Frequently Asked Questions

• Background
  
• Preparation and Dissemination Requirements
  
• Content Requirements
  
• SARC Templates

Acronym Definitions

• ADA - average daily attendance
• CDE - California Department of Education
• CDS - County-District-School
• COE - County Office of Education
• CSAM - California School Accounting Manual
• DFC - direct funded charter
• EC - Education Code
• ESEA - Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• ESSA - Every Student Succeeds Act
• FIT - facility inspection tool
• LEA - local educational agency
• NPS - nonpublic nonsectarian school
• OPSC - Office of Public School Construction
• OPUS - Online Public Update for Schools
• SACS - Standardized Account Code Structure
• SARC - School Accountability Report Card
• SBE - State Board of Education
• URL - uniform resource locator

Background

1. Why are local educational agencies (LEAs) required to publish School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs)?

   In November 1988, California voters passed Proposition 98, also known as The Classroom Instructional Improvement and Accountability Act. This ballot initiative provides California's public schools with a stable source of funding. In return, all public schools in California are required annually to prepare SARCs and disseminate them to the public. SARCs are intended to provide the public with important information about each public school and to communicate a school's progress in achieving its goals.
   
   In the years since the passage of Proposition 98, additional requirements for school accountability reporting and dissemination have been established through legislation. Most SARC requirements are codified in California Education Code (EC) sections 33126 and 33126.1 . In addition, similar requirements are contained in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) legislation.
   
   Pursuant to Chapter 914, Statutes of 2004 (Assembly Bill 1858), all nonpublic, nonsectarian schools are required to prepare a SARC in accordance with EC Section 33126. This requirement applies to nonpublic, nonsectarian schools but does not apply to nonpublic, nonsectarian agencies.

2. Are LEA governing boards required to approve the publication of a SARC?

   Yes. Our understanding of the relevant SARC California EC Section 35256 is as follows:
   
   

   EC Section 35256 requires the governing school board of each school district to "develop and cause to be implemented" a SARC for each school within their district in which to report school conditions provided in EC Section 33126. To "develop and cause to be implemented" is to "approve."
   
   EC Section 35256(b) sets forth a minimum ("not less than") triennial frequency in which school boards shall compare their SARC template to the model template adopted by the state board. This minimum triennial frequency does not constitute a maximum frequency -- it does not preclude more frequent SARC comparisons nor does it set a limit on how often such comparisons must take place. The State Board of Education reviews and updates its model SARC template on an annual basis and it is therefore required that school boards perform their SARC comparisons under EC 35256(b) on that same annual basis.
   
   EC Section 35256 states:
   
   The governing board of each school district maintaining an elementary or secondary school shall develop and cause to be implemented for each school in the school district a School Accountability Report Card.
   
   (a) The School Accountability Report Card shall include, but is not limited to, the conditions listed in Section 33126.
   
   (b) Not less than triennially, the governing board of each school district shall compare the content of the School Accountability Report Card of the school district to the model School Accountability Report Card adopted by the state board. Variances among school districts shall be permitted where necessary to account for local needs.
   
   (c) The governing board of each school district annually shall issue a School Accountability Report Card for each school in the school district, publicize those reports, and notify parents or guardians of pupils that a hard copy will be provided upon request. Commencing with the 2008–09 school year, each school district shall make hard copies of its annually updated report card available, upon request, on or before February 1 of each year.

Preparation and Dissemination Requirements

3. Are schools/LEAs required to publish and disseminate SARCs?

   Yes, all active public schools/LEAs and nonpublic, nonsectarian (NPS) schools are required to prepare and disseminate a SARC for the primary purpose of providing parents with data and information to make meaningful comparisons between schools (inclusive of charter schools).
   
   Charter schools are required to prepare SARC reports as a method by which to measure pupil progress in meeting pupil outcomes for state priorities, pursuant to EC Section 47605(b)(5)(C). Further information about charter schools can be found on the Charter Schools web page.
   
   For public school/LEA SARC Coordinators, the electronic SARC template is partially pre-populated using the data that the school/LEA submitted to the California Department of Education (CDE) during the school year.
   
   For NPS SARC Coordinators, the NPS schools do not provide the CDE with data during the school year, and therefore, the electronic SARC template is only pre-populated with some district data and the state data.
   
   The online SARC Web Application is located in the myCDEconnect system, and can be accessed on the CDE SARC web page.
   
   The current blank SARC template is available on the CDE SARC web page.
   
   EC Section 35256 states in part:
   
   ...each school district shall make hard copies of its annually updated report card available, upon request, on or before February 1 of each year.
   
   In addition, EC Section 33126(d) states:
   
   It is the intent of the Legislature that schools make a concerted effort to notify parents of the purpose of the school accountability report cards, as described in this section, and ensure that all parents receive a copy of the report card; to ensure that the report cards are easy to read and understandable by parents; to ensure that local educational agencies with access to the Internet make available current copies of the report cards through the Internet.
   
   These sections, when taken together, require that LEAs notify all parents of the availability of a full report and provide instructions regarding how this information can be obtained both through the Internet and on paper (upon request). LEAs with access to the Internet are required to make SARCs available through that medium.

4. Are County Offices of Education (COEs) required to prepare and publish SARCs?

   Yes, EC Section 35256 requires that the governing board of each school district maintaining an elementary or secondary school are to develop a SARC. EC Section 1984 provides that a county board of education shall be deemed to be a school district when it establishes and maintains a county community school. Further, EC Section 1906 provides where a county board of education operates classes or schools for prisoners in a county jail, county farm, or county road camp, the county board of education has the same obligations as a school district would have if it were operating the schools. Throughout the EC, there are several statues which include a county board of education operating an elementary or secondary school within the definition of "school district" (e.g., EC sections 1984, 35160.2, and 41302.5). Therefore, any county board of education operating an elementary or secondary school is required to prepare SARCs.

5. Who are Main Authorizers in the myCDEconnect system?

   For the SARC program, the Main Authorizers are the persons listed on the California School Directory in the categories of County Superintendent, District Superintendent, Direct Funded Charter (DFC) School Administrator, and Nonpublic Nonsectarian (NPS) School Administrator.
   
   This may be different from the Main Authorizers of other programs in the myCDEconnect system. For the California School Dashboard and LCAP eTemplate programs, the Main Authorizers are the persons listed on the California School Directory in the categories of County Superintendent, District Superintendent, and Charter School Administrator.

6. Who are SARC Coordinators in the myCDEconnect system?

   A SARC Coordinator may be an employee of the LEA or a third-party vendor contracted with the LEA, that has been designated to prepare and process the SARC report(s) for the selected schools in the LEA on the myCDEconnect unified system. Each Main Authorizer may designate up to 2 SARC Coordinators per LEA and 2 SARC Coordinators per school.

7. Who are Alternate Authorizers in the myCDEconnect system?

   An Alternate Authorizer must be an employee of the LEA designated and approved by the Main Authorizer of the LEA to act on behalf of the Main Authorizer in all required capacity for all programs in the myCDEconnect system. The Alternate Authorizer will have all the same system responsibilities and capabilities as their Main Authorizer, including but not limited to, the approval/decline of Coordinator registration requests.
   
   Designating an Alternate Authorizer is an available option (not a requirement) for the convenience of the Main Authorizer, with a limit of 1 Alternate Authorizer per LEA.

8. Who are Registrants in the myCDEconnect system?

   Registrants are all persons who register on the myCDEconnect system to obtain a user account (i.e., username and password) (i.e., Coordinators and Alternate Authorizers) to access the myCDEconnect system.

9. How does a Main Authorizer obtain a SARC user account (i.e., username and password) to access the online SARC Web Application located in the myCDEconnect system?

   Main Authorizers do not register, Main Authorizers are automatically registered into the system, and have continuous year-round access to the myCDEconnect system. The system sends an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org to their email address (as listed on the California School Directory), with their username and temporary password.

   Main Authorizers that are newly listed on the California School Directory will be automatically registered in the myCDEconnect system within 24 to 48 hours of their contact information being displayed on the California School Directory. The system will send an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org to their email address (as listed on the California School Directory), with their username and temporary password. The system will also automatically inactivate the user account of the previously listed Main Authorizer.

10. If a new Main Authorizer started AFTER the SARC process started, how does this new Main Authorizer obtain a username and password to access the programs in the myCDEconnect system?

    The myCDEconnect system has been designed to be LEA-managed. The system is connected to the information on the California School Directory.
    
    Step 1: Update the California School Directory with the correct name and/or email address of the new Main Authorizer. The California School Directory is updated by the LEA on the Online Public Update for Schools (OPUS) web page.  If you have questions or need assistance, you may contact the CDS Administration by email at cdsadmin@cde.ca.gov. Note, this process may take up to two weeks for the updated information to be displayed on the California School Directory.
    
    Step 2: Each night the myCDEconnect system connects to the current updated California School Directory. Upon any change in the email address of a Main Authorizer (i.e., person listed in any of the categories of County Superintendent, District Superintendent, Direct Funded Charter School Administrator, or Nonpublic Nonsectarian School Administrator), the system will automatically generate a username and temporary password, and send an email (from noreply@mycdeconnect.org) with this information to the new/updated email address for this newly listed Main Authorizer.
    
    The system will also automatically inactivate the user account of the previously listed Main Authorizer.

11. What if the name and/or email address of the Main Authorizer listed on the California School Directory is incorrect information? How does the actual Main Authorizer obtain a SARC user account (i.e., username and password) to access the myCDEconnect system?

    The myCDEconnect system has been designed to be LEA-managed. The system is connected to the information on the California School Directory.
    
    Step 1: Update the California School Directory with the correct name and/or email address of the Main Authorizer. The California School Directory is updated by the LEA on the Online Public Update for Schools (OPUS) web page.  If you have questions or need assistance, you may contact the CDS Administration by email at cdsadmin@cde.ca.gov. Note, this process may take up to two weeks for the updated information to be displayed on the California School Directory.

    Step 2: Each night the myCDEconnect system connects to the current updated California School Directory. Upon any change in the email address of a Main Authorizer (i.e., person listed in any of the categories of County Superintendent, District Superintendent, Direct Funded Charter School Administrator, or Nonpublic Nonsectarian School Administrator), the system will automatically generate a username and temporary password, and send an email (from noreply@mycdeconnect.org) with this information to the new/updated email address for this Main Authorizer as listed on the California School Directory.
    
    The system will also automatically inactivate the user account of the previously listed Main Authorizer.

12. How does a SARC Coordinator obtain a SARC user account (i.e., username and password) to access the SARC Web Application located in the myCDEconnect system?

    A designated SARC Coordinator must register in the myCDEconnect system and be approved by their Main Authorizer (or the Alternate Authorizer, if any).
    
    SARC Coordinator user accounts are annual (September to September) and require annual registration.

    How to register:
    
    Step 1: Go to the myCDEconnect . In the top right menu select “Registration”.

    Step 2: Select User Type button “Coordinator”; select the button School Accountability Report Card (SARC).

    Step 3: Search:

    Use the “Search for individual schools” if selecting one or more schools (including charter schools and NPS schools); type the name of the school, select the school; repeat until you have completed your list of schools; and/or

    Use the “Search for All Schools within a District” if selecting selecting many or most of the schools in a district; type the name of the district; select the district, this will provide you with the full list of schools within that district (traditional schools and locally funded charter schools, appropriately). To remove any schools from this list, use the “x” at the end of each row; and/or
    
    Use the “Search for District” if registering to be a SARC Coordinator for a District; type in the name of the district; select the district.

    Once you have your completed list of school(s)/district(s), scroll to the bottom of the web page, select “Continue”.

    Step 4: Populate the requested registration information. All mandatory fields identified with an asterisk (*) must be completed in order to submit this form.

    Scroll to the bottom of the web page, select “Submit”.
    
    Step 5: You have completed the registration process. You are advised to print this confirmation web page for your records.

    Your registration request has been emailed to your Main Authorizer (and to the Alternate Authorizer, if designated). The registration request email remains active/valid until processed by the Main Authorizer (i.e., approved or denied).

    If approved, you will receive an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org with username and temporary password information. If denied, you will receive an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org with denial notification.

    Note: It is the responsibility of the Main Authorizers and the registrants (i.e., Coordinators and Alternate Authorizers) to check their junk mail or have the SPAM email filter reviewed to check for any messages from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. They may need to communicate with their technology person to ensure that their system will allow receipt of emails from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. The technology person might need to “whitelist” this email address so your system will allow receipt of emails from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. To “Whitelist”: (1) use the IP Address: 149.72.170.114, 149.72.254.73 and (2) add to the SPF record: noreply@mycdeconnect.org.
    

13. How does an Alternate Authorizer obtain a SARC user account (i.e., username and password) to access the SARC Web Application located in the myCDEconnect system?

    A designated Alternate Authorizer must register in the myCDEconnect system and be approved by their Main Authorizer.
    
    Alternate Authorizer user accounts are annual (August to August) and require annual registration.
    

    How to register:
    
    Step 1: Go to the myCDEconnect . In the top right menu select “Registration”.
    
    Step 2: Select the button “I am registering to be an Alternate Authorizer”.

    Step 3: Type the name of the district or DFC school or NPS school; select the district or DFC school or NPS school, appropriately.

    Scroll to the bottom of the web page, select “Continue”.

    Step 4: Populate the requested registration information. All mandatory fields identified with an asterisk (*) must be completed in order to submit this form.

    Scroll to the bottom of the web page and select “Submit”.

    Step 5: You have completed the registration process. Print this confirmation web page for your records.

    Your registration request has been emailed to your Main Authorizer. The registration request email remains active/valid until processed by the Main Authorizer (i.e., approved or denied).

    If approved, you will receive an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org with username and temporary password information. If denied, you will receive an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org with denial notification.

    Note: It is the responsibility of the Main Authorizers and the registrants (i.e., Coordinators and Alternate Authorizers) to check their junk mail or have the SPAM email filter reviewed to check for any messages from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. They may need to communicate with their technology person to ensure that their system will allow receipt of emails from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. The technology person might need to “whitelist” this email address so your system will allow receipt of emails from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. To “Whitelist”: (1) use the IP Address: 149.72.170.114, 149.72.254.73 and (2) add to the SPF record: noreply@mycdeconnect.org.
    

14. I have a SARC user account, but forgot my username and/or password. What do I do?

    For those who already have an approved user account to access the myCDEconnect system: if you forgot your password, or if you did not receive the email with your temporary password, or if the system states that your credentials are not working, then you may use the Forgot Password link to reset your own password to gain access to the myCDEconnect system.

    The Forgot Password link is available for Main Authorizers, registered and approved Alternate Authorizers, and registered and approved Coordinators.

    The username for all Main Authorizers is their email address as listed on the California School Directory. The username for the approved Alternate Authorizers and approved Coordinators is their email address used when registering.

    Note: For Alternate Authorizers and Coordinators, if your name and/or email address has changed from the one you used to register, then you will need to request your Main Authorizer to delete your previous user account, so you can re-register with your new name and/or new email address.

    The Forgot Password link is located below the Login box at myCDEconnect Login , select the Forgot Password link, type your email address, select Request Reset Password.

    After using the Forgot Password process, the system will send you an email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org with a new temporary password, which is required to be reset at myCDEconnect Reset Password prior to login access at myCDEconnect Login .

    It is important for all authorized users when using the “Forgot Password” link or the “Reset Temporary Password” link, that the email address and temporary password and newly created password must be hand-typed in with no space before or after, and is case sensitive, and must not be copy/paste in. The system will not acknowledge any information that is copy/paste in.

    Please note that if the email from noreply@mycdeconnect.org was not received in your regular email inbox, you may need to check your junk mail or have the SPAM email filter reviewed to check for any messages from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. You may need to communicate with your technology person to ensure that your system will allow receipt of emails from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. Your technology person might need to “whitelist” this email address so your system will allow receipt of emails from noreply@mycdeconnect.org. To “Whitelist”: (1) use the IP Address: 149.72.170.114, 149.72.254.73 and (2) add to the SPF record: noreply@mycdeconnect.org.

15. Is there is specific date by which the SARCs are to be published and submitted to the CDE?

    Yes. SARCs must be published and submitted to the CDE no later than February 1 of each year.
    
    According to state and federal laws (EC sections 35256 and 35258, and ESEA Section 1111[h]), schools/LEAs must annually update and disseminate SARCs to provide current information to parents and other members of the public. The CDE interprets "annually" to mean "once in each school year." In most years, some of the required data may not be available until October/November or later. Therefore, the preparation of report cards that comply with State Board of Education (SBE)-adopted requirements governing content and definitions may not be completed until November/December.
    
    Since SARCs must be prepared and disseminated before the end of each school year to comply with the law, schools/LEAs must prepare and make available their new SARCs no later than February 1 of each year.

16. Who prepares the SARC - the schools or LEAs?

    This is a local decision made by the LEA. Each LEA may complete SARC reporting requirements differently, based on local resources and areas of expertise. The LEA is responsible for ensuring all SARCs are made available to the public by the required date.

17. Are the schools/LEAs required to populate the tables/cells that have the letters DPC (data provided by the CDE) in the blank SARC template?

    Yes. The tables/cells that CDE indicated they would pre-populate is a courtesy not a legal mandate. The CDE is only legally mandated to provide a blank SARC template approved by the State Board of Education. However, as a courtesy, the CDE pre-populates a portion of the public school electronic SARC templates using the data the public schools/LEAs provided to the CDE during the school year.
    
    However, if for any reason, data was not uploaded into a table/cells of the electronic SARC template that have the letters DPC shown in the blank SARC template, the school/LEA is still required to populate the table/cells.
    
    The public schools/nonpublic nonsectarian schools/LEAs are ultimately responsible for the completion of their entire SARCs, as well as for the accuracy of all data in their SARCs. Therefore, if any CDE pre-populated data do not accurately reflect district and/or school data, the LEAs/schools should correct the data as part of preparing and publishing their SARCs. The data pre-populated in the electronic SARC templates are editable, with the exception of the teacher data and the state data.

18. Are the schools/LEAs required to validate the data that the CDE pre-populates into the electronic SARC template and related downloadable data files?

    Yes. The CDE pre-populates a portion of the electronic SARC templates using the data that the public schools/LEAs provided to the CDE during the school year. However, when the school/LEA provided the data to the CDE, there is the possibility there could have been a typo. It is the responsibility of the school/LEA to validate the data prior to posting. The schools/LEAs are ultimately responsible for the completion of their entire SARC and for the accuracy of all data in their SARC.

19. If I disagree with any of the data that CDE pre-populated into the electronic SARC template, can I edit it?

    Yes. The system is set up for the user to be able to edit data elements, including the data that the CDE pre-populated into the electronic SARC templates, with the exception of the teacher data and state data. The CDE pre-populates portions of the electronic SARC templates using the data that the public schools/LEAs provided to the CDE during the school year. However, when the school/LEA provided the data to the CDE, there is the possibility there could have been a typo. It is the responsibility of the school/LEA to validate the data prior to posting. Therefore, the school/LEA may edit data elements that they feel does not accurately reflect their school/LEA. The schools/LEAs are ultimately responsible for the completion of their entire SARCs and the accuracy of all data in their SARCs.

20. Are newly opened schools required to prepare and disseminate a SARC in their first year of operation?

    Yes. The law (EC Section 35256) states that each local governing board shall develop and issue a SARC for each school in the school district. All available information and data must be published by the publication deadline (February 1 each year). However, if a school had zero enrollment during the SARC year and zero enrollment during the current school year, then a SARC will not be required.
    
    Each table in the SBE-approved SARC template specifies the school year(s) or fiscal year of data required to be populated in that table. Newly opened schools are to provide data in the SARC template tables/cells of those which years correspond with their new/first school year of operation.

21. If a school was open during the SARC year but is now closed, is a SARC required for this school?

    If there is no intention for this school to become active/open any time within the following two school years from the date of closure, then no, a SARC is not required.
    
    If there is intention for this school to become active/open any time within the following two school years from the date of closure, then yes, a SARC is required.

22. Where are the SARCs located that are submitted to the CDE?

    The current SARCs and one prior year SARCs that have been submitted to the CDE are located on the Find a SARC web page and are available for public view/access/download.
    
    If a school's SARC report or web link to their SARC report is not available on the Find a SARC web page, please contact the school or district.
    
    School and district contact information is available on the California School Directory.

23. Why does the CDE pre-populate a portion of the electronic SARC templates for public schools but not for nonpublic, nonsectarian schools?

    As a courtesy for public schools and districts, the CDE makes some SARC data available. Where the CDE maintains data previously reported by public LEAs, the data have been pre-populated into a portion of the electronic SARC templates for public schools' use. Nonpublic, nonsectarian schools do not provide the CDE with data, and therefore the CDE does not have data available to pre-populate these same data elements in their electronic SARC templates, with the exception of some district data and the state data.

24. Are LEAs required to provide the CDE with a copy of the SARC for each of the LEA's schools?

    Yes. EC Section 33126.1 requires LEAs to provide the CDE with an accurate uniform resource locator (URL) of the website address to where the LEA has posted its SARCs. EC Section 33126.1 also requires the CDE to maintain a centralized location of the submitted URLs to these LEA websites to facilitate public access to SARCs. In order to ensure uniformity and access by the public, the CDE has made available two methods for the schools/LEAs to submit their SARCs to the CDE: (1) use the online electronic SARC template available on the SARC Web Application located in the myCDEconnect system to complete and post the SARC, or (2) upload an accurate URL of the website address to where the SARC has been posted on the school/LEA website.
    
    To be in compliance with the law, in addition to submitting their SARCs to the CDE, each school/LEA that is connected to the Internet shall also post their SARCs on their school/LEA website.

25. What are the methods available for LEAs to submit their SARCs to the CDE?

    The SARC Web Application serves as the mechanism for each LEA to provide the CDE with its completed SARC. There are two methods available for LEAs to submit their SARCs to the CDE: (1) use the online electronic SARC template available on the SARC Web Application located in the myCDEconnect system to complete and post the SARC, or (2) upload an accurate URL of the website address to where the SARC has been posted on the school/LEA website.
    
    If your LEA uses method 1 above, once you have finalized/posted the SARC on the SARC Web Application (if posted successfully there will be a checkmark in the "Finalized" column on the SARC Dashboard), a successfully posted SARC will simultaneously be posted on the CDE Find a SARC web page for public view/access. When using method 1, the Google Translate feature allows the user to view your SARC in over 70 languages. While in the Google Translate, the user can save the translated SARC report as a PDF to their own computer to post on the school and/or district website. There will be no need to send any additional information to the CDE. Remember to post your SARC on your school/LEA website (English and all required translations). If you place a link to the CDE Find a SARC web page on your school/LEA website along with an informational and instructional notation (in English and in all the required translations), this will satisfy your legal requirements for posting your required translations.
    
    If your LEA uses method 2 above, once you have posted your SARC on your school/LEA website (English and all required translations), proceed to upload the active URL to your completed SARC (to the English version) onto the SARC Web Application. If posted successfully, you will see a checkmark in the “Finalized” column on the SARC Dashboard web page and this link will simultaneously be posted on the CDE Find a SARC web page. There will be no need to send any additional information to the CDE.

26. How to submit/post a SARC on the SARC Web Application system.

    There are two methods available for schools/LEAs to submit/post their SARCs with the CDE: (1) use the online electronic SARC template located on the SARC Web Application to complete and post their SARC; or (2) upload an active Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the website address where their SARC has been posted on their school/LEA website.
    
    Method 1: The following are the instructions for how to post an electronic SARC template on the SARC Web Application in the myCDEconnect.

    Instructions for Main Authorizers and Alternate Authorizers - login to the myCDEconnect system; select the SARC Dashboard tab, select the “Edit SARC” icon located in the Actions column; select each table/review/populate/select Save; once all tables are complete and show a circle with checkmark next to each table within each section, then the top of each section will show a circle with checkmark; once 100% progress has been achieved (i.e., all tables are complete/saved and the top of each section shows a circle with checkmark) then the “Finalize SARC” button will appear in the upper left corner area below the blue box with the school’s name; to post the SARC, select the “Finalize SARC” button and follow any prompts; when posted successfully a circle with checkmark will appear in the Finalized column on the SARC Dashboard screen.

    Instructions for Coordinators - login to the myCDEconnect system; select a school’s blue SARC tile; once in the electronic SARC template, select each table/review/populate/select save; once all tables are complete and show a circle with checkmark next to each table within each section, then the top of each section will show a circle with checkmark; once 100% progress has been achieved (i.e., all tables are complete/saved and the top of each section shows a circle with checkmark) then the “Finalize SARC” button will appear in the upper left corner area below the blue box with the school’s name; to post the SARC, select the “Finalize SARC” button and follow any prompts; when posted successfully a circle with checkmark will appear on the school’s blue SARC tile.

    Method 2: The following are the instructions for how to upload/post a URL on the SARC Web Application in the myCDEconnect.
    
    Instructions for Main Authorizers and Alternate Authorizers - login to the myCDEconnect system; select the SARC Dashboard tab, select the “Link to external SARC” icon located in the Actions column of the row for the school; a window will open; paste the active URL of the website address where the SARC has been posted on the school or LEA website, or paste the active URL that takes the user directly into the posted SARC; select the “Submit URL” button; the system will take you back to the SARC Dashboard where, if posted successfully, there will be a circle with checkmark in the Finalized column for this school. This SARC will immediately be posted with the CDE and will immediately be posted on the Find a SARC website available for public view and access.

    Instructions for Coordinators - login to the myCDEconnect system; select a school’s blue SARC tile; once in the electronic SARC template, select the “Link to external SAC” icon located at the bottom of the blue box with the school’s name located in the top left corner area of the SARC; a window will open; paste the active URL of the website address where the SARC has been posted on the school or LEA website, or paste the active URL that takes the user directly into the posted SARC; select the “Submit URL” button; the system will take you back to the electronic SARC template where, if posted successfully, there will be an “Un-Finalize SARC” button located below the “Link to external SARC” icon, and there will be a circle with a checkmark on the blue SARC tile of this school. This SARC will immediately be posted with the CDE and will immediately be posted on the Find a SARC website available for public view and access.

27. Are SARCs required to be prepared and disseminated in languages other than English?

    Yes. According to EC Section 48985, if 15 percent or more of the pupils enrolled in the school speak a single primary language other than English, all notices, reports, statements, or records sent by the school or district to the parent/guardian of any such pupil must, in addition to being written in English, be written in the primary language, and may be responded to by the parent or guardian in English or in the primary language. These translation requirements apply to the SARC just as they apply to any other written communication that a district or school prepares for the purpose of informing a student’s parent or guardian. In addition, federal law requires that schools and districts effectively communicate with all parents and guardians, regardless of the percentage of students who speak a language other than English (Title III, Section 3122[c]).

28. Can edits be made to a SARC after it has been finalized and posted with the CDE?

    Yes, after a SARC has been been posted with the California Department of Education, or CDE, and made available for public view, it can later be un-posted, edited, and re-posted regardless of which method has been used to post it (i.e., posted the electronic SARC template or uploaded a URL).
    
    Instructions for Main Authorizers and Alternate Authorizers:
    
    To remove a published SARC, while on the SARC Dashboard screen, click on the “Delete SARC” icon located in the Actions column (looks like a garbage can); select “Yes” when prompted with: “Confirm Un-Finalize, Are you sure you want to un-finalize this SARC for (School Name)?”
    
    For a SARC previously published using the online electronic SARC template, the “Delete SARC” icon removes the published SARC from public view, it does not delete the actual electronic SARC template nor does it delete the data within the electronic SARC template. Selecting the “Delete SARC” icon merely removes this SARC from public view. The SARC is then available for editing and re-posting.
    
    For LEAs that previously uploaded a URL to post their SARCs with the CDE, the “Delete SARC” icon deletes the URL from the SARC Web Application system. The user can then re-upload an active URL of the website address to where the updated SARC has been posted on the school or district website. If an updated SARC is located at the same URL location that was previously uploaded, then it is not necessary to remove and re-upload this same URL.
    
    Once the user removed the previously posted SARC regardless of which method was used to post it, the circle with a checkmark will no longer be in the Finalized column on the SARC Dashboard screen, and the “Edit SARC” icon will reappear in the Actions column.
    
    To update and re-post an electronic SARC template, select the “Edit SARC” icon located in the Actions column; you can now edit your electronic SARC template, remember to select the “Save” button in each updated table. When the updated electronic SARC template is ready to be re-posted, select the “Finalize SARC” button located below the blue box with the school’s name located in the top left corner area of the SARC. If posted successfully, there will be an “Un-Finalize SARC” button in place of the “Finalize SARC” button, and there will be a circle with a checkmark in the Finalized column on the SARC Dashboard screen. The updated SARC will immediately be re-posted with the CDE and will immediately be re-posted on the Find a SARC website available for public view and access.
    
    To re-upload an active URL, select the “External link to SARC” icon located in the Actions column on the SARC Dashboard screen; a window will open; paste the active URL of the website address to where the updated SARC has been posted on the school or LEA website, or paste the active URL that takes the user directly into the posted updated SARC; select the “Submit URL” button; the system will take you back to the SARC Dashboard screen where there will be a circle with a checkmark in the Finalized column. The updated SARC will immediately be re-posted with the CDE and will immediately be re-posted on the Find a SARC website available for public view and access.
    
    Instructions for Coordinators:
    
    To remove a published SARC, login to the myCDEconnect; select the school’s blue SARC tile; select the “Un-Finalize SARC” button located in the upper left corner area below the blue box with the school’s name; select “Yes” when prompted with “Confirm Un-Finalize, Are you sure to un-finalize this SARC for (school’s name)?” For a SARC previously published using the online electronic SARC template, the “Un-Finalize SARC” icon removes the published SARC from public view, it does not delete the actual electronic SARC template nor does it delete the data within the electronic SARC template. Selecting the “Un-Finalize SARC” icon merely removes the SARC from public view. The SARC is then available for editing and re-posting.
    
    For LEAs that previously uploaded a URL to post their SARC with the CDE, the “Un-finalize SARC” button deletes the URL from the SARC Web Application system. The user can then re-upload an active URL of the website address to where the updated SARC has been posted on the school or district website. If an updated SARC is located at the same URL location that was previously uploaded, then it is not necessary to remove and re-upload this same URL.
    
    Once you’ve removed the previously posted SARC regardless of which method was used to post it, the circle with a checkmark will no longer be on the blue SARC tile.
    
    To update and re-post an electronic SARC template, select the school’s blue SARC tile; select and update the tables to be edited, remember to select the “Save” button in each updated table. When the updated electronic SARC template is ready to be re-posted, select the “Finalize SARC” button located at the bottom of the blue box with the school’s name in the top left corner area of the SARC. If posted successfully, there will be an “Un-Finalize SARC” button in place of the “Finalize SARC” button, and there will be a circle with a checkmark on the blue SARC tile of this school. The updated SARC will immediately be re-posted with the CDE and will immediately be re-posted on the Find a SARC website available for public view and access.
    
    To re-upload an active URL, select the school’s blue SARC tile; select the “External link to SARC” icon located at the bottom of the blue box with the school’s name located in the top left corner area of the SARC; a window will open; paste the active URL of the website address to where the updated SARC has been posted on the school or district website, or paste the active URL that takes the user directly into the posted updated SARC; select the “Submit URL” button. If posted successfully, there will be an “Un-Finalize SARC” button located below the “Link to external SARC” icon, and there will be a circle with a checkmark on the blue SARC tile of this school. The updated SARC will immediately be re-posted with the CDE and will immediately be re-posted on the Find a SARC website available for public view and access.

29. How do I view/print a SARC?

    PRIOR to Posting the SARC
    
    Instructions for Main Authorizers and Alternate Authorizer
    Login; on the SARC Dashboard, select the “View” icon located in the Actions column; once in the SARC using your mouse do a right click/print/Save As PDF to your computer and print.
    
    Instructions for Coordinators
    Login; select a school’s blue SARC tile; select the “View” icon located at the bottom of the blue box with the school’s name (located at the top left corner area of your screen); once in the preview of the SARC, place your mouse anywhere on the SARC and using your mouse do a right click/print/Save As PDF to your computer and print.
    
    AFTER the SARC is Posted
    
    Instructions for All Users
    To view/ print a posted SARC from the Find a SARC web page , when on the Find a SARC web page, type in the name of the school or district, then select the school, this will take you to the school’s Summary web page. In the lower left corner of the Summary web page is a dropdown of the years, select the year, then select the “View Full SARC” button, the system will take you to the school’s SARC; once the SARC is opened place your mouse anywhere on the SARC, and using your mouse do a right click/print/Save As PDF to your computer and print.

30. Where do I upload the translated SARCs?

    For posting SARCs translated in other languages, CDE recommends that you upload the translated SARCs onto your school/LEA website.
    
    For the SARCs that were completed and posted with the CDE using the electronic SARC template available on the SARC Web Application, the Google Translate feature is available on the system to allow the user to view the SARCs in over 70 languages. While in the Google Translate, the user can save a translated SARC report as a PDF to their own computer.