Data, Data, Data

As the 2018-19 school year came to a close, many of Nonpublic schools and agencies received requests from their respective districts around “CALPADs” data and reporting on behaviors that “could have” resulted in suspension or expulsion.  Previously, NPSAs were not required to work within CALPADs or asked to report such information. The State and some districts conducted training around what information was needed, and essentially NPSAs were asked to partner with districts and do our best to report information.

The background to this is that it ties to data required by state and federal law.  As a result of CAPSES lobbying efforts, AB 2657 (Weber) requires nonpublic schools and agencies (NPSA) to report to their contracting districts. In turn, the school districts are required to include NPSA students placed out of the district(s).  The goal is to create a more accurate portrayal of data and links to funding.

CAPSES encourages partnerships and working collaboratively with contracting districts to ensure accurate information from NPSA is being sent to the California Department of Education. And, in turn, to the U.S. Department of Education.  This data reporting is a request we can anticipate the continuing year-to-year, and one we should plan to address and track.

In talking to members, CAPSES saw some effective practices occurring and thought best to share some insight from the field for the common purposes of finding local solutions.  Here are some of the things happening:

• Embedding CALPAD codes into BER and IR forms, as a result, when sent on to districts, the CALPADs information is already included.
• Keeping district spreadsheets and entering necessary CALPAD information as it occurs.
• Working with SELPA to develop a single template across districts for reporting.
• Sending IRs to both the Special Education department and Data departments at districts.

While CAPSES cannot say which solution is appropriate for your organization, it is essential to know that NPSAs are required to report this information moving forward.  As a result, (classification of the behavior and classification of our response), many districts have advocated that NPSAs make such determinations since the schools and agencies are the locations of such events.