Alternative Coursework - Legislative Report

California Department of Education
Report to the California State Legislature, the Executive Director of the State Board of Education, and the Director of Finance: Alternative Coursework Progress Report

Executive Summary

This report is required by Senate Bill 101, Section 188, Provision 144 of the California Budget Act of 2023. This bill required the identification and development of alternative coursework and performance tasks for educators to use with students with disabilities (SWDs). In June 2023, SB 101 amended and extended the work outlined in SB 154 of the California Budget Act of 2022. The CDE contractor, WestEd, completed the following:

• A national review of best practices for improving graduation rates for SWDs that identified three major findings: (1) inclusive practices create flexible instruction and assessment conditions, (2) non-traditional assessment models such as portfolio assessments and performance tasks allow students to demonstrate proficiency, and (3) mastery-based grading is a tool to make grading and graduation requirements clear at the course level.
• A statewide needs assessment survey of Special Education directors focused on graduation practices for SWDs, which identified the following three themes: (1) locally defined graduation requirements are the primary tool for providing alternative means to graduation, (2) states were mixed in the statewide strategies for applying alternative means, and (3) increasing inclusive and flexible instructional design supports graduation rates. Interviews with key state leads, district leads, educators, and focus groups pertaining to their strategies for improving graduation rates for SWDs were also conducted.
• Recruited and managed a team of subject matter experts and coalition partners to create resources, performance tasks, and guidance documents to support local educational agencies in adopting and implementing this initiative. A summary of the timelines and partnership activities is included in this report.
  

If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact John Burch, Education Administrator I, Special Education Division, by phone at 916-445-4891 or by email at JBurch@cde.ca.gov.

You can find this report on the CDE Special Education Laws, Regulations, and Policies web page.

Alternative Coursework Interim Report (DOCX)