Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS)
Modified methods of measurement for indicators that are aligned with the evaluation rubrics of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) to evaluate the success or progress of schools that serve high-risk students.Background
California's accountability system significantly changed with the adoption of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). This new accountability system, the California School Dashboard, contains state indicators and standards to help identify a school's strengths, weaknesses, and areas in need of improvement.
California Education Code (EC) Section 52052(d) requires: The Superintendent, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall develop an alternative accountability system for schools under the jurisdiction of a county board of education or a county superintendent of schools, community day schools, . . . and alternative schools serving high-risk pupils, including continuation high schools and opportunity schools . . .
In 2017, the State Board of Education (SBE) directed the California Department of Education (CDE) to explore the development of modified methods, where appropriate, to fairly evaluate and support alternative schools and their progress. By 2018, the CDE began to incorporate the use of modified methods when calculating the Academic and Graduation Rate Indicators for alternative schools on the Dashboard.
On July 27, 2022, US Department of Education (ED) declined California's waiver request that would allow for the continued use of modified methods for calculating the Academic and Graduation Rate Indicators. As a result of this waiver denial, the 2022 Dashboard will be the first Dashboard without any modified methods applied to state indicators and all Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) schools will be treated the same as all other schools on the Dashboard.
Future of DASS and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Although the DASS modified methods will not be used for federal accountability purposes, state accountability permits the continued use of DASS. Therefore, DASS schools will:
- Continue to be identified on the Dashboard with the DASS Status information under the School Details on the Dashboard.
- Receive the label as a "DASS Community of Practice" for those that meet the eligibility for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) low graduation rate or low performance to distinguish the uniqueness of these schools and the students served, and
- Continue to receive the DASS One-Year Graduation Rate on the Dashboard for informational purposes in addition to the combined four-and five year graduation rate reported under the Graduation Rate Indicator.
The CDE will also explore the flexibilities offered under the ESSA for modifying school identification in 2023 and beyond.
This web page will be updated to reflect any new decisions and approvals by the SBE and the U.S. Department of Education.
Eligibility and Application
- DASS Eligibility Criteria
- DASS Application Timeline (PDF) (Information about the early application timeline)
- DASS Application Instructions and Form
- DASS Withdrawal Instructions (For schools automatically included in DASS participation)
- Active DASS Schools (A list of schools that are currently participating in DASS.)
Resources
DASS 1-Year Graduation Rate (PDF)
A one-page document explaining the DASS graduation rate and the data used to calculate it.
DASS FAQs
Commonly asked questions regarding DASS.
