Starting in 2022, the California School Dashboard will apply a much more punitive penalty when schools and their student groups do not meet 95 percent participation on California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests in English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics. The new penalty could present unexpected risks to charter renewal, even for schools that have not had challenges in the past. For some schools, penalties may create a concerning Dashboard and, worse, may even result in placement on a lower renewal “track.” This article describes the new penalty, how it connects to charter renewal, and suggestions to reduce risk.
