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File Structure: Staff Education Data

File structure for downloadable data files containing Certificated Staff Education disaggregated by academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.

Files include state, county, district, and school level data. Please refer to the file structure for details for information about which data are included in the file. For more detailed examples about how to properly use these data, please refer to the Using the Staff Education Data File examples below.

Note: The staff data may include small N-sizes. Therefore, the California Department of Education (CDE) urges caution when comparing percentages, ratios, or other calculations based on small N-sizes, which may negatively impact data reliability. Data are not included for districts and independently reporting charter schools (IRCs) that did not certify their California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) Fall 2 submission.

General Description of the Data File

Field Description
Academic Year The academic year corresponding to the Census Day from which official certificated staff counts are determined using data submitted as part of the annual Fall 2 submission to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) by local educational agencies (LEAs), which includes school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education. Census Day or Information Day is the first Wednesday in October.
Aggregate Level An indicator of the aggregation level.
  • T = State
  • C = County
  • D = District
  • S = School

Note: One of these values must be chosen to obtain an unduplicated count at the selected level.

County Code A unique two-digit code corresponding to the county.
District Code A unique five-digit code corresponding to the district.
School Code A unique seven-digit code corresponding to the school.
County Name County Name
District Name District or Administrative Authority Name
School Name School Name
Charter School (ALL/Y/N)

An indicator of whether data for all schools, only charter schools, or only non-charter schools are included in the aggregate.

  • ALL: Includes data for all schools regardless of charter status. For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, data for all schools are included in the aggregate. Charter = ALL is not applicable for Aggregate Level = S (school-level).

  • Y: Includes only data for charter schools in the selected aggregate for Aggregate Levels T, C, and D. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of Charter = Y indicates that the school is a charter school.

  • N: Includes only data for non-charter schools in the selected aggregate for Aggregate Levels T, C, and D. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of Charter = N indicates that the school is not a charter school.

Note: One of these values must be chosen to obtain an unduplicated count at the selected level. Select ALL for aggregate totals without consideration of charter school status.

Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) (ALL/Y/N)

An indicator of whether data for all schools, only schools participating in the Dashboard Alternative School Status Program (DASS), or only non-DASS schools are included in the aggregate.

  • ALL: Includes data for all schools regardless of DASS status. For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, data for all schools are included in the aggregate. DASS = ALL is not applicable for Aggregate Level = S (school-level).

  • Y: Includes only data for DASS schools in the selected aggregate for Aggregate Levels T, C, and D. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of DASS = Y indicates that the school is a DASS school.

  • N: Includes only data for non-DASS schools in the selected aggregate for Aggregate Levels T, C, and D. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of DASS = N indicates that the school is not a DASS school.

Note: One of these values must be chosen to obtain an unduplicated count at the selected level. Select ALL for aggregate totals without consideration of DASS.

Staff Type

A coded value corresponding to the certificated Staff Type with data are included in the aggregate.

  • ALL: All Staff
  • ADM: Administrators
  • PSV: Pupil Services Staff
  • TCH: Teachers
  • OTH: Other Non-Instructional Support Staff

Note: One of these options must be chosen to obtain the desired count at the selected level. Select ALL for aggregate totals without consideration of Staff Type.

School Grade Span

A coded value corresponding to the School Grade Span of the schools for which data are included in the aggregate.

  • ALL: Includes data for all schools regardless of School Grade Span. For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, data for all schools are included in the aggregate. School Grade Span = All is not applicable for Aggregate Level = S (school-level).

  • GS_K6: Includes data for Grade K–6 schools where the lowest and highest grades offered are grades 6 or less, inclusive (e.g., grade K, grades K–1, grades K–6, grades 1–5, grade 6). For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, only data for Grade K–6 schools are included in the aggregate. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of School Grade Span = GS_K6 indicates that the school is a Grade K–6 school.

  • GS_69: Includes data for Grade 6–9 schools where the lowest grades offered are grades 6–8, inclusive, and the highest grades offered are grades 7–9, inclusive (e.g., grades 6–9, grades 6–8, grades 7–9). For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, only data for GS_69 schools are included in the aggregate. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of School Grade Span = GS_69 indicates that the school is a Grade 6–9 school.

  • GS_912: Includes data for Grade 9–12 schools where the lowest grades offered are grades 9–11, inclusive, and the highest grades offered are grades 9–12, inclusive (e.g., grade 9, grades 9–10, grades 10–12, grade 12). For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, only data for GS_912 schools are included in the aggregate. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of School Grade Span = GS_912 indicates that the school is a Grade 9–12 school.

  • GS_K12: Includes data for Grade K–12 Other schools where the lowest grades offered are grades K–8, inclusive, and the highest grades offered are grades 7–12, inclusive (e.g., grades K–12, grades K–8, grades 1–12, grades 6–12, grades 8–9, grades 7–12). For Aggregate Levels T, C, and D, only data for GS_K12 schools are included in the aggregate. For Aggregate Level = S, a value of School Grade Span = GS_K12 indicates that the school is a Grade K–12 Other school.

The School Grade Span is a summary of the lowest and highest K–12 grade levels offered by a school as reported to the CDE through the OPUS-CDS system and reported in the California School Directory. Please Note: Since transitional kindergarten (TK) is the first year of a two-year kindergarten (K) program (see Education Code section 48000(d)), all School Grade Spans inclusive of Grade K (i.e., K–6 and K–12), also include TK when offered.

Note: One of these options must be chosen to obtain the desired count at the selected level. Select ALL for aggregate totals without consideration of School Grade Span.

Staff Gender

A coded value corresponding to the Staff Gender for which data are included in the aggregate.

  • ALL: All Staff
  • GF: Female
  • GM: Male
  • GX: Non-Binary
  • GZ: Missing

Note: One of these options must be chosen to obtain the desired count at the selected level. Select ALL for aggregate totals without consideration of Staff Gender.

Total Staff Count Total Staff Count (N)
Associate

Total count of staff with a juris doctorate degree.

An associate/associate's degree is an undergraduate degree awarded to a student after completing two to three years of postsecondary study at junior college, college, or university.

Baccalaureate

Total count of staff with a baccalaureate degree.

A baccalaureate or bachelor/bachelor's degree is an undergraduate degree awarded to a student after completing four years of postsecondary study at a college or university.

Baccalaureate Plus

Total count of staff with a baccalaureate plus degree.

A baccalaureate plus is a postsecondary educational status where a student has completed one or more of the following: (1) a minimum of 30 additional semester units of undergraduate level coursework after having received a bachelor's degree (Baccalaureate Plus 30); (2) a minimum of 30 semester units of graduate level coursework after the completion of the bachelor's degree and without being granted a Master's degree (Fifth Year of Study); (3) a minimum of 150 semester units of undergraduate level coursework completed within the bachelor's degree program (Fifth Year within BA); or (4) an induction program through an approved induction program sponsor (Fifth Year Induction).

Master

Total count of staff with a master's degree.

A master or master's degree is a postgraduate degree that is awarded by universities and some other educational institutions to a student who has completed the requisite coursework, research, thesis, and/or examinations requirements in a specific area of study or area of professional practice. Master's degrees typically require an additional one to three years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Examples include an MA, MS, and Master of Education.

Master Plus

Total count of staff with a master's plus degree.

A postgraduate educational status where a student has completed a master's degree plus 30 or more semester units.

Doctorate Total count of staff with a doctorate degree.

A doctorate or doctoral degree is a postgraduate degree that is awarded by universities and some other educational institutions to a student who has completed the requisite coursework, original research, thesis, and/or examinations requirements in a specific area of study or area of professional practice. Doctoral degrees typically require an additional three to six years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Examples include a Ph.D., Ed.D., and M.D.
Special (Juris Doctor) Total count of staff with a juris doctorate degree.

A juris doctorate degree is a postgraduate degree that is awarded by universities and some other educational institutions to students who have completed the requisite coursework, practical training, and examination requirements in the area of law or legal studies.
None Total count of staff for whom no degree was indicated or reported by the district.

General Description of the Data File

The certificated staff demographic and assignment data are submitted by local educational agencies (LEAs) and charter schools to the California Department of Education (CDE) as part of the annual Fall 2 data submission in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). Staff data submitted in the CALPADS Fall 2 submission include, but is not limited to, staff race/ethnicity, gender, highest education level, years of experience, and full-time equivalency (FTE) assignment-based information. These staff data are reviewed and certified in CALPADS as being accurate by authorized LEA or charter school personnel. In order to certify data in CALPADS, authorized LEA or charter school personnel are required to review the accuracy of all data associated with the applicable CALPADS submission, with final certification reserved for LEA superintendents, charter school administrators, or their designees. Please contact the LEA or charter school if you have any questions about their certified CALPADS data.

Source: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) Fall 2 annual data submission. The CALPADS Fall 2 data are based on information as of Census Day, the first Wednesday in October.

Note: The staff data may include small N-sizes. Therefore, the CDE urges caution when comparing percentages, ratios, or other calculations based on small N-sizes, which may negatively impact data reliability.

Using the Staff Education Data File

This file contains different subsets of data based on the values of different variables. If these sub-setting variables are not used properly, it is easy to end up with incorrect or duplicative data. Please refer to the following examples below as a guide for properly using these data:

  1. Get unduplicated school-level totals for all staff (Note: Staff may have multiple Staff Type assignments at an entity. Staff Type = ALL is an unduplicated staff count.)
    1. Aggregate Level = S (School)
    2. Charter School (Y/N) = Y and N
    3. DASS (Y/N) = Y and N
    4. Staff Type = ALL
    5. School Grade Span = ALL
    6. Staff Gender = ALL

  2. Get school-level data totals for Teachers and for all non-charter schools
    1. Aggregate Level = S (School)
    2. Charter School (Y/N) = N
    3. DASS (Y/N) = Y and N
    4. Staff Type = TCH
    5. School Grade Span = ALL
    6. Staff Gender = ALL

  3. Get school-level data totals for Male Teachers and for all Grade 9-12 DASS schools
    1. Aggregate Level = S (School)
    2. Charter School (Y/N) = Y and N
    3.  DASS (Y/N) = Y
    4. Staff Type = TCH
    5. School Grade Span = GS_912
    6. Staff Gender = GM

  4. Get district-level data totals for Administrators by Staff Gender for non-charter schools
    1. Aggregate Level = D (District)
    2. Charter School (Y/N) = N
    3.  DASS (Y/N) = ALL
    4. Staff Type = ADM
    5. School Grade Span = ALL
    6. Staff Gender Not Equal to ALL

  5. Get statewide-level data totals for Teachers and for charter schools that are DASS schools
    1. Aggregate Level = T (State)
    2. Charter School (Y/N) = Y
    3.  DASS (Y/N) = Y
    4. Staff Type = TCH
    5. School Grade Span = ALL
    6. Staff Gender = ALL
Questions:   Analysis Measurement & Accountability Reporting Division | dro@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Thursday, July 17, 2025
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