Research Library

First Release of Student-Level Data  

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr08/yr08rel94.asp

Publication Date: 2008

Summary or Abstract: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has released a report on dropout and graduation rates for the 2006-07 school year that for the first time was compiled using individual student-level data.

Now, individual student-level data allow districts and the state to collect and report what becomes of students who leave school. Each student withdrawing from a school is assigned one of 28 "withdrawal codes," indicating, for example, whether that student graduated, dropped out, withdrew, left the state or country, or completed their education in other ways.

In the past, if a parent told a school that a student was transferring to a different school, the school would mark that student as having transferred to another public school. With Statewide Student Identifiers (SSIDs), the state can determine whether students marked as transfers indeed did enroll in another California public school. If the student does not show up at another California public school, there's reason for schools to try and find out what happened to the student.

"This will help ensure students in our education system don't fall through the cracks," O'Connell said.