District reports gains on California dashboard and celebrates IDEA50th; special education outcomes improve
Summary
District staff presented the 2025 California School Dashboard showing gains in graduation rates (89.9% combined 4/5-year) and science (green); special education staff marked the 50th anniversary of IDEA and reported higher graduation rates for students with disabilities and increased in-district services.
District administrators presented the 2025 California School Dashboard and a special-education anniversary report at the Dec. 10 board meeting.
Samantha Allen, Martha Thomas and Christina Filios explained the dashboard's five performance levels and the 5-by-5 status/change matrix used to assign colors to indicators. The districtwide distance-from-standard measures in English language arts and math moved to yellow this year, science received a green performance level in its first year of reporting, the college-and-career readiness indicator remained green at 44.7%, and chronic absenteeism remained in the orange range at 18.4%.
Filios highlighted that Mount Diablo's combined 4- and 5-year graduation rate is 89.9% (green), an improvement of 3.5 percentage points from last year and 2.1 points above the state average. Staff emphasized subgroup performance and the effect of participation rates on indicator adjustments.
At the same time, district staff and the Community Advisory Committee marked the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Presenters noted the district serves approximately 4,698 students with disabilities and reported continued efforts to provide least-restrictive environments and to improve postsecondary outcomes; staff cited improvements in graduation rates for students with disabilities up to an estimated 81%.
Trustees thanked staff for the data and asked clarifying questions about science results and participation effects. No formal action was required for the presentation.
