Policy 0500 - Accountability

Accountability

The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to ensure accountability to the public for the performance of district schools. The Board shall regularly review the effectiveness of the district's programs, personnel, and fiscal operations, with a focus on the district's effectiveness in improving student achievement. The Board shall establish appropriate processes and measures to monitor results and to evaluate progress toward accomplishing the district's vision and goals.

Indicators of district progress in improving student achievement shall include, but are not limited to, the state Academic Performance Index (API) and the measures of "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) required under the federal accountability system.

Alternative schools serving high-risk student populations, including continuation high schools, opportunity schools, and community day schools, shall be subject to an alternative accountability system established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction

The district and each district school shall demonstrate comparable improvement in academic achievement, as measured by the API, for all numerically significant student subgroups. Numerically significant subgroups include ethnic subgroups, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English learners, students with disabilities, foster youth, and homeless students, when the subgroup consists of at least 30 students with a valid test score or 15 foster youth, and homeless students.

The Superintendent shall provide regular reports to the Board and the public regarding district and school performance. Opportunities for feedback from students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members shall be made available as part of any review and evaluation of district programs and operations and as part of the development or annual update of the local control and accountability plan (LCAP).

Evaluation results may be used as a basis for revising district or school goals, updating the LCAP or other comprehensive plans, identifying and developing strategies to address disparities in achievement among student subgroups, implementing programmatic changes, determining the need for additional support and assistance, awarding incentives or rewards, and establishing other performancebased consequences.