Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Performance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
La Cañada reports top CAASPP performance, discusses teacher assignment monitoring outcomes
Summary
La Cañada Unified presented its 2025 CAASPP results — among the state's top unified districts in ELA, math and science — and reviewed state‑reported Teacher Assignment Monitoring Outcomes (TAMO) showing high percentages of fully credentialed staff with localized staffing notes.
La Cañada Unified School District officials presented the district’s official 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) results and reviewed the state’s 2023–24 Teacher Assignment Monitoring Outcomes (TAMO) data during the board meeting.
CAASPP results: District performance and participation District executive director Karen Hurley reported that La Cañada Unified ranked at or near the top among unified districts in California in the 2025 CAASPP results: 89.08% of students met or exceeded standards in English language arts (ranked first among unified districts); 84% met or exceeded standards in math (ranked second among unified districts); and 74.9% met or exceeded state standards in science (first among unified districts). District staff emphasized unusually high participation rates — over 99% participation in ELA and math and 99.7% participation in CAST (California Science Test) — and noted that high participation gives a more complete snapshot of district performance.
Hurley reviewed subgroup and cohort analyses and noted areas of growth (for example, gains in ELA for several subgroups and math gains for special education and some ethnic subgroups). She also explained how mean scale scores and cohort diagonal analyses are used to monitor year‑to‑year growth.
Board discussion about the CAST (science) results highlighted that statewide science scores tended to be lower overall, and board members asked whether the twelfth‑grade administration (district chooses grade for CAST) affects comparability to earlier years; staff said the district tests CAST in grade 12 by choice as a capstone measure and described efforts to ensure seniors take the test seriously.
Teacher Assignment Monitoring Outcomes (TAMO) District staff presented TAMO data released by the California Department of Education after the district adopted its LCAP. The TAMO report showed a high proportion of fully credentialed teachers in La Cañada (roughly 93% cleared credentials reported), above county and state averages cited in the presentation. Staff explained categories in TAMO — "out of field," "ineffective," and "incomplete" — and said some increases in science were attributable to recently hired teachers who were new to the district or out of state and working toward local authorizations; PE and special education patterns were also flagged as common areas for limited assignments when staffing needs arise.
Staff said the district monitors credentials and placements, supports newly hired teachers to obtain required authorizations, and will continue to work toward reducing any incomplete or out‑of‑field assignments. Board members noted the value of the longitudinal CAASPP cohort data in guiding intervention and professional development.
Why it matters The CAASPP results are a district achievement benchmark and inform instruction and program priorities. The TAMO report is a state accountability metric that helps districts identify assignment or credentialing gaps; the district reported it will continue credential monitoring and professional supports for teachers in targeted subjects.
