District Assistance and Support

SDCOE continues to be a partner to LEAs by providing support to LEAs eligible for Differentiated Assistance, LEAs with schools identified for CSI, and all LEAs through network meetings, newsletters, and LCAP review and approval. 

A Consistent Approach

The improvement science specialists at SDCOE have developed a series of supports for LEAs that includes institutes and professional learning networks (PLNs). The timing of the Differentiated Assistance supports fits in with the LEA's LCAP timeline.

The institutes maximize the time and set a foundation for the work that is done during the PLN.

Data Institute 

• Dashboard analysis
• Review performance on state indicators
• Develop an inquiry stance to promote further exploration
• Identify additional information to inform continuous improvement efforts

System Analysis PLN

• Join cohort of LEAs with similar grades served or needs
• Discuss data findings
• Perform system analysis
• Review effective practices that support goals and continuous improvement

Root Cause Institute 

• Use deeper inquiry of a single area of need
• Identify root cause and contributing factors to strengths and weaknesses

Synthesis of Findings PLN

• Agree upon findings for performance and system strengths and weaknesses.
• Summarize the findings determined by deeper inquiry of a single area
• Reference effective evidence-based programs aligned to goals
• Consolidate learning and findings

SDCOE will support all LEAs to transform public education and guarantee high levels of student achievement. SDCOE’s leaders, coaches, and educators are ready with a learning stance to embrace the new accountability culture and collaborate with LEAs to build a system that works for all students.  

Differentiated Assistance / Comprehensive Support and Improvement

Differentiated Assistance (DA) is individualized support for LEAs that meet the eligibility criteria based on the California School Dashboard results. DA helps LEAs build their capacity to improve student outcomes through the LCAP process; it is not an additional improvement plan. SDCOE brings eligible districts together to look at their data, learn collectively, and implement action plans to improve student outcomes. Supports are designed differently for districts in their first year of DA versus their second year. In 2019-20, charter schools will be included for eligibility. Eligibility for DA is determined annually when the Dashboard results are released; there is no label or status requiring exit criteria.

SDCOE Differentiated Assistance Process

1. SDCOE coaching team for each district   2 Data Institute
2. System Analysis
3. Root Cause Institute
4. Synthesis of Findings

Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI)

The first level of assistance for schools under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I schools are eligible for assistance based on graduation rate or academic performance. LEAs are tasked with providing support to their schools; county offices of education are responsible for assisting LEAs by growing leaders’ capacity to support their schools. Improvement efforts must be approved through each school’s School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). A summary of those efforts must be included in the LEA’s LCAP. The other levels of support are Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI).

ESSA Support Levels

• CSI: Eligibility = Grad rate less than 67% averaged over two years (all high schools eligible) or lowest performing 5% of Title I schools (All red/all red except one/majority red/all red or orange on Dashboard indicators) 
• TSI: Eligibility = Eligible in 2019-20 / One or more student groups for two consecutive groups meet same CSI/Title I criteria
• ATSI: Eligibility = Determined by state in 2018-19 / Among TSI-eligible schools and any student group on its own meets criteria for CSI/Title I criteria

School Plan for Student Achievement

The School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), formerly the Single Plan for Student Achievement, is for schools that receive federal funds to consoli-date all school planning requirements. The CSI/TSI/ATSI improvement plan must be in the SPSA, with a summary of all efforts in the LCAP. SPSAs are approved by school site councils. Single school districts and charter schools can use the LCAP as their SPSA, provided the LCAP meets the ESSA school planning requirements and the stakeholder requirements. 

At A Glance

• Be informed by all state indicators
• Be based on a school-level needs assessment
• Include evidence-based interventions
• Identify resource inequities

Local Control and Accountability Plan

What's New in 2019-20

• LCFF Budget overview for Parents
• CSI Summary
• Federal Addendum

This the final year of this three-year, static Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) for LEAs. The LCAP describes the goals, actions, services, and expenditures to support positive student outcomes that address state and local priorities. The 2020-21 LCAP will begin a new three-year plan.

The state system of support, including DA, supports LEAs in aligning, prioritizing, and using resources to meet student needs identified in their LCAP. Using the California School Dashboard to drive continuous improvement, districts dig into the Dashboard data, review local measures, tap into stakeholder input, and update or create the LCAP as a strategic plan for student improvement.

SDCOE reviews and approves all LEA LCAPs and provides year-round LCAP process support. Services provided to all LEAs include network meetings, newsletters, free professional learning opportunities, and 
representation at statewide meetings.

The California School Dashboard is a data tool to help LEAs identify strengths and weaknesses by highlighting student groups and focusing on equity. It reports on the performance of districts and schools using multiple measures and accounts for both the current data (status) and whether there has been improvement (change) over time. Users can drill down to see where the gaps in student performance exist and continue the work of changing their local system to ensure all students are prepared to succeed.

Dashboard At A Glance

• Results released in December
• Used to determine eligibility for DA and CSI/TSI/ATSI
• Informs LCAP and continuous improvement efforts