California’s Education Recovery: Progress and Challenges Ahead
California’s K-12 schools have shown significant progress in various areas during the last academic year, such as a slight increase in graduation rates, a decrease in suspensions, and a drop in the number of chronically absent students, as per the School Dashboard released recently.
State schools also witnessed an overall improvement in state standardized test scores for both English language arts and math, better preparation of students for college and careers, and an increase in students earning a seal of biliteracy. These advancements, though incremental in nature, signify that California schools are making headway in combating the learning loss and absenteeism stemming from the school closures at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.
Leaders like California State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond lauded these positive results, emphasizing the state’s efforts to get students back on track, enhance college and career readiness, and boost graduation rates.
### Progress Indicators on the Dashboard
The School Dashboard, a pivotal component of the state’s accountability system, utilizes color codes to demonstrate whether schools or districts have shown growth or regression in key areas like chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, graduation rates, college and career preparation, English language learner progress, and state standardized test scores in math and English language arts.
### Declining Chronic Absenteeism Rates
Although chronic absenteeism rates have decreased, with a notable 5.7 percentage point drop each year over the past two academic years, California still has work to do to reach the 12.1% rate recorded in 2019 before the pandemic. The current rate stands at 18.6%, with high school students being the most affected.
### Addressing Long-Term English Learners
A significant addition to the dashboard this year is the inclusion of long-term English learners, a student subgroup with distinct needs and challenges that were previously overlooked. This change, advocated for by organizations like Californians Together, aims to shine a light on these students and prompt schools to tailor programs and support systems to aid their academic growth effectively.
### Looking Ahead
As schools navigate the complexities of recovery and improvement, a concerted focus on areas like chronic absenteeism, long-term English learners, and equity issues remains crucial. By leveraging the insights gleaned from the School Dashboard and fostering targeted interventions, California’s education system can continue on its path towards comprehensive growth and student success.
In the journey to bolster student outcomes and ensure educational equity, collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to addressing diverse student needs will be paramount. As California’s schools forge ahead, the evolving landscape of education promises both challenges and opportunities, underscoring the importance of adaptability, empathy, and collective action in shaping a brighter future for all learners.
