Ed-Buzz

Monday, April 04, 2005 | User-friendly API reports available

Users can go to http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us, select the school or district of interest, and choose “Accountability” from the “Select Report” pull-down menu. On the tab labeled API Base, viewers will see the 2003-2004 data just released by the California Department of Education, as well as Base APIs from previous years. The reports include information about schools and districts, and about their significant subgroups of students, including various ethnicities and students who are socio-economically disadvantaged, disabled and English learners.

Other helpful features found by clicking on the tabs are API Growth reports for school districts and the state, and Annual Yearly Progress reports that are required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. These reports give a view of the progress as districts strive to improve performance. Also, using the site’s new “Compare Schools” function, users can see how a given school stacks up to others like it and can select comparison data by clicking on the “Help” link to clarify how this feature works.

An explanation about the purpose and complexities of the API is in the Education Issues section of the Ed-Data home page in an article titled “Understanding the Academic Performance Index.”

Check the Web site for a release coming soon that will provide a new way to compare districts using multiple criteria including performance, student demographics, teacher characteristics and financial data.

San Diego City Schools wins award

San Diego City Schools and the Metropolitan School District in Indianapolis were selected as Citation winners from almost 350 entries, and both districts will receive scholarship money and recognition at a luncheon on April 18 during the National School Boards Association annual conference in San Diego. The grand prize winner was the Miami-Dade County School District.

The Magna Awards were initiated to recognize local school boards for taking bold and innovative steps to improve their educational programs. More information on San Diego City Schools’ parent communications and involvement standards is available on the district’s Web site at http://www.sandi.net/parents/pciw/#standards.

Proposition MM Oversight Committee to meet

Open house at SDSU

Budget update on Wednesday’s school board agenda

New classroom dedication on Thursday

Visual and performing arts curriculum workshop on Thursday

Gompers students to rally against violence

– MARSHA SUTTON, Voice Education Writer