State Board Advances 2025 Accountability Reforms, Curriculum Projects, and Leadership Appointments

The California State Board of Education (SBE) kicked off 2025 with a packed January meeting that focused on long-term planning for school accountability, curriculum development, and leadership transitions. The Board approved its 2025 Accountability Workplan, launched development for a Personal Finance Curriculum Guide, previewed a “Portrait of a Graduate,” and confirmed new appointments to key positions at CDE.

2025 Accountability Workplan Approved

In response to the California School Dashboard’s newly moved-up publication deadline of November 15, 2025, the SBE reviewed and approved its 2025 Accountability Workplan (Item 2). Key topics included the incorporation of the Science Assessment and Growth Model data, revisions to the College/Career Indicator (CCI), Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) adjustments, and CALPADS-based Differentiated Assistance eligibility criteria.

Science Indicator

The Science Indicator was added to the 2024 Dashboard for informational purposes only. In 2025, it will include performance levels. CDE will bring cut point data to the March meeting, and the Board will vote on full integration by July, including color assignments for the Five-by-Five Grid.

Student-Level Growth Model

The Board reviewed options for integrating Growth Scores into the Dashboard using CAASPP data from 2021–2024. These included making ELA and Math Growth Scores standalone indicators, including them as part of existing indicators, or publishing them as reference data. No final decisions were made in January.

College/Career Indicator (CCI)

• CDE is exploring adding eligibility requirements for college credit courses.
• ROC/P data may be removed from the CCI due to redundancy.
• The Board is interested in possibly including AP and IB assessments in future CCI reporting.

Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS)

CDE is re-evaluating criteria to validate schools serving 70%+ high-risk students. Updated recommendations are expected at a future meeting.

CALPADS Differentiated Assistance (DA) Eligibility

The 2023 Budget Act required county superintendents to provide technical assistance to any district or COE that fails to meet CALPADS student-level data requirements. The Board approved a phased-in eligibility schedule:

Academic Year	District/COE eligible for CALPADS DA if…
2023–24	They failed to certify end-of-year data submissions
2024–25	They failed to certify data by final certification deadlines
2025–26	They failed to certify data by final certification deadlines OR they were identified with a data quality issue

Personal Finance Curriculum Guide Timeline Approved

Following the passage of AB 2927 (McCarty), the Board approved the timeline and foundational principles for developing a Personal Finance Curriculum Guide, which will support the new graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2030–31.

Milestone Event	Date
Public Input Webinar	December 12, 2024
SBE approves draft Development Timeline and Foundational Principles for the Curriculum Guide	January 15, 2025
IQC establishes a Personal Finance Subject Matter Committee	January 29–30, 2025
Development of first draft of the Curriculum Guide	February–Summer 2025
Committee reviews first draft of the curriculum guide	Summer 2025
IQC reviews updated draft and formally opens public comment period	September 17–18, 2025
Online posting of draft curriculum guide for public feedback	October 1–31, 2025
IQC recommends draft curriculum guide to the SBE	March 2026
SBE action on draft curriculum guide	May 2026

Portrait of a Graduate Timeline Previewed

The Board previewed a draft timeline for the development of a “Portrait of a Graduate/Learner.” This framework is designed to reflect a shared vision of educational outcomes that can help align state priorities and guide policy discussions—without imposing new LEA requirements.

The full timeline is available below, as well as in Attachment 2:

Milestone Events	Date
Develop engagement protocols and announce dates	January – February 2025
Conduct educational partner engagement sessions (2 in-person, 2 virtual)	February – May 2025
Synthesize findings	May – Early June 2025
Draft Profile presented to SBE for feedback	July SBE Meeting
Revised Profile presented to SBE for adoption	September SBE Meeting

Leadership Appointments and Elections

• Sharon Olken and Alison Yoshimoto-Towery were sworn in for new four-year terms on January 7, 2025.
• Linda Darling-Hammond and Cynthia Glover-Woods were re-elected as Board President and Vice President, respectively.
• Dr. Ingrid Roberson and David Schapira were confirmed as CDE’s new Chief Deputy Superintendents.

Full bios are available here.

Other Actions

The Board also approved 2024–25 CTEIG grant allocations, heard updates on additional policy items, and discussed multiple waiver requests. Information on these items is available in other items and waivers heard during the meeting.