DASS Application Instructions

The California Department of Education (CDE) DASS Application is a two-part process used by alternative schools of choice and charter schools that serve high-risk students. The DASS criteria requires a school to have an unduplicated count of at least 70 percent of the school's total enrollment composed of the following high-risk student groups: expelled; suspended; wards of the court; pregnant and/or parenting youth; recovered dropouts; habitually truant or habitually insubordinate and disorderly; retained more than once in kindergarten through grade eight; credit deficient; gap in enrollment; high level of transiency; Foster Youth; or Homeless Youth.

DASS Application and Renewal Timeline for 2024-–25 Accountability Reporting

For the 2024–25 Accountability Reporting cycle, the CDE is transitioning the DASS application process to align with the annual Accountability Reporting cycle. This adjustment ensures consistent DASS reporting on DataQuest and the Dashboard during a single Accountability Reporting year.

• For schools required to renew in Spring 2024 or Spring 2025, the application process remains the same. Pending approval of the renewal, the school will maintain DASS status for one additional year beyond the renewal year.
• For schools new to the DASS application process, pending approval of the school meeting the eligibility criteria, the school will be included in the 2024 Dashboard.

Table 1 details the updated timeline for renewals and new schools based on the DASS Approval year.

Table 1: Updated DASS Application Submission and Accountability Reporting Cycle

DASS applications, both for new status and renewals, will be available beginning March 15, 2024. Schools that are eligible for renewal are those that were previously approved for DASS status in 2020–21 school year.

Applications require two parts: Part 1, which is an online survey, and Part 2 which is the submission of documentation approved by the local district governing board.

Approval of the DASS Application is contingent upon completion of both Parts 1 and 2. Both parts must be completed by their respective submission deadlines.

Part 1 for New Applications and Renewals: Completing and Submitting the DASS Survey

The 2024 submission window for Part 1 occurs between March 15, 2024 and May 15, 2024.

Part 1 of the DASS application process is an online survey. To complete the survey, please follow the steps below:

• Navigate to the online Survey .
• Complete all fields before submitting the survey.
• Print a copy of the form before submitting.

Important Note: When determining a school's percentage of high-risk youth for DASS eligibility, please use the school's cumulative enrollment from July 1, 2023 to the date of submission. A student is considered high-risk if they meet one of the high-risk criteria approved by the State Board of Education upon first enrollment at the school. If their high-risk status starts after first enrollment at the school, they cannot be counted as high-risk in this calculation. (e.g., John Doe is currently enrolled at the school as a Foster Youth. However, upon his first enrollment last year he was NOT a Foster Youth. John Doe may not be counted as Foster Youth on the DASS application.)

Once Part 1 (the survey) has been submitted, the person listed as the DASS coordinator will receive instructions for completing Part 2 of the DASS application process by e-mail within two business days.

If you do not receive instructions for completing Part 2 after submitting Part 1, please contact the Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division at Dashboard@cde.ca.gov for assistance.

If multiple Part 1 forms are submitted for a school, the CDE DASS team will use the most recent form in determining DASS eligibility.

Part 2 for New Applications and Renewals: Submitting Supporting Documents Approved by the Local District Governing Board

The 2024 submission deadline for Part 2 is July 10, 2024.

Once a school's DASS coordinator has submitted Part 1, the CDE DASS team will assign a secure, private Box.com folder to that school and the DASS coordinator will have file upload privileges for their assigned folder. Supporting documentation for Part 2 is submitted through Box.com.

The DASS coordinator is responsible for uploading the following documents to their school’s Box.com folder before the Part 2 submission deadline on July 10, 2024. Follow the steps below:

1. Obtain signatures of the school principal, county or district superintendent or charter school administrator, and local district governing board president on the DASS Eligibility Certification Form. This form is located in your assigned Box.com folder.
   
   
2. Submit a copy of the governing board’s agenda and minutes that indicates the approval of the DASS eligibility certification. The local district governing board or the charter school board must certify that the school's enrollment meets the DASS criteria as an agendized board item.

Note: If the school's DASS eligibility was certified by the charter school board, a letter must be sent to the charter's authorizing governing board notifying them of their DASS eligibility. A copy of the notification letter must also be submitted to the CDE.

Once all required supporting documents have been uploaded, CDE staff will send a confirmation e-mail to the school's DASS coordinator. Supporting documents (Part 2) submitted through e-mail or by mail will not be accepted.

Terms of Dashboard Alternative School Status Participation

All DASS participating schools must maintain documentation of how they meet the DASS criteria for 70 percent of high-risk students as reflected on their DASS Application. The CDE will conduct annual reviews and the failure to provide such documentation may result in termination of the school's DASS. If a school’s enrollment of high-risk students falls below 70 percent, the school will be removed from DASS.

All schools voluntarily participating in the DASS program will be required to re-certify their high-risk student enrollments every three years (i.e., if a school is approved to participate in DASS for the 2024-–25 Accountability year, this school must reapply in 2027 for the 2027-–28 Accountability year to continue their participation in DASS). If a school fails to re-certify its high-risk student enrollment, the school will be removed from DASS.