School Accountability Reporting - CalEdFacts
This content is part of California Department of Education's information and media guide about education in the State of California. For similar information on other topics, visit the full CalEdFacts.Since November 1988, state law resulting from the passage of Proposition 98 has required all public schools receiving state funding to prepare and distribute a School Accountability Report Card (SARC). A similar requirement is also contained in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The purpose of the report card is to provide parents and the community with important information about each public school. A SARC can be an effective way for a school to report on its progress in achieving goals. The public may also use a SARC to evaluate and compare schools on a variety of indicators.
Although there is great variation in the design of school report cards, they generally begin with a profile that provides background information about the school and its students. The profile usually summarizes the school’s mission, goals, and accomplishments. State law requires that the SARC contain information in the following areas:
- Data and access
- Parental involvement
- Class size
- School climate
- School facilities
- Teachers and support staff
- Curriculum and instructional materials
- School finances
- Student performance
- Accountability
- School completion and postsecondary preparation
- Instructional planning and scheduling
In addition, the ESEA requires that SARCs contain specific requirements. (See Federal School Accountability Reporting in this section of the CalEdFacts.)
For more information regarding SARCs, contact SARC team by phone at 916-319-0406 or by e-mail at sarc@cde.ca.gov. Additional information is available on the California Department of Education SARC web page.