District presents new California School Dashboard growth data showing mixed results in ELA and math

Mount Diablo Unified School District staff presented the California School Dashboard’s newly published growth data at the board meeting on Feb. 12, describing it as an additional measure of student progress and performance.

Dr. Chenoway (presenter) explained the state’s growth calculation, which compares students’ actual CAASPP scores to a typical expected score and groups student cohorts by whether their aggregate growth falls below, at, or above typical. The dashboard growth metric uses multiple years of CAASPP (SBAC) data; county and district staff said it is currently available for students in grades 4–8 because those grades have multi‑year test records.

For the district’s English language arts indicator, the presenter reported an aggregate growth score modestly below typical for the set of students measured (about 10,195 students included in the ELA growth calculation). For math, district growth data for roughly 10,148 students was described as “right on” — i.e., at typical growth — though several student groups remain below typical growth in that subject.

Trustees and staff discussed how growth data should be used in conjunction with local formative assessments and professional development, and the superintendent said the district is working with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and other partners to guide interventions. Trustees asked whether comparable districts show different results; staff said state tools permit comparisons and that county offices do cross‑district analysis.

The presentation emphasized that the dashboard metric is a summative, multi‑year measure, and administrators said more powerful levers to affect results are formative data and classroom practices during the school year.

No formal action was required; the dashboard update was provided for information and to inform planning and professional development.