Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

CALPADS Statewide Student Identifier

An SSID is a unique student identifier that all K–12 public school students are required to have.

Statewide Student Identifier (SSID)

A Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) is a unique number linked to a given individual student within the California public K–12 educational system. Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S. Code § 1232g; 34 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 99.3), the SSID is considered "personally identifiable information" or "PII." SSIDs are used to maintain data on individual students, such as linking students to statewide assessment scores and tracking students in and out of schools and districts in order to determine more accurate dropout and graduation rates.

All public California K–12 local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools, are required to obtain SSIDs through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) for students in kindergarten through grade 12. LEAs may also acquire SSIDs for preschool and adult students. These agencies should maintain the SSIDs in their local systems as well as in CALPADS.

Maintaining SSIDs includes providing updates to changes in students’ enrollment statuses, and submission of basic demographic and program information to CALPADS.

Background

SSIDs are authorized by California Education Code Section 60900(e)(3). SSIDs were first issued statewide to all K–12 public school students in 2005–2006.

Where Can I Find My SSID?

Students wishing to obtain their SSID should contact their current school or the last school district in which they were enrolled, such as their high school. SSIDs are issued at the local K–12 school level. Beginning in 2005–2006, SSIDs have been assigned to students when they are enrolled in school. Students who graduated from high school prior to 2005 may not have an SSID, as SSIDs were not issued statewide in California prior to 2005.

 

Questions:   CALPADS Office | calpads@cde.ca.gov | 916-324-6738
Last Reviewed: Monday, October 14, 2024
Recently Posted in School Performance
  • CALPADS Update Flash #293 (added 18-Dec-2024)
    This Flash summarizes Fall 2 changes that were not described in Flashes 287, 288, and 289.
  • CCGI Flash #3 (added 20-Nov-2024)
    California Department of Education (CDE) Basic Accounts on CaliforniaColleges.edu; Accessing Basic Accounts; Complying with Education Code Section 51225.8 Requirement.
  • CALPADS Update Flash #292 (added 31-Oct-2024)
    SUN Bucks Update; Understanding 2024 and 2025 SUN Bucks.