Academic Performance Index (API)
Understanding the Academic Performance Index (API)
The Academic Performance Index (API) was a crucial part of California’s academic accountability system, established by the Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA) of 1999. The Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA) of 1999 (Chapter 3, Statutes of 1999) required that the California Department of Education (CDE) annually calculate APIs for California public schools and to publish statewide school decile ranks. The PSAA also established annual API growth targets for each district, school, and student group. The API measured the academic performance and progress of public schools in California, setting growth targets and ranking schools based on their performance.
What is the Academic Performance Index (API)?
The API was designed to provide a single, composite score representing the academic performance of a school. Schools received an API score ranging from 200 to 1000, with a higher score indicating better performance. The scores were based on the results of standardized tests and other academic indicators. Each year, schools were expected to meet growth targets set by the state, which were aimed at improving overall educational outcomes.
Evolution of the API
The API served as the cornerstone of California’s educational accountability for over a decade. It provided a standardized way to evaluate and compare the performance of schools and student groups, promoting transparency and accountability. However, the educational landscape began to shift with the introduction of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) in 2013. The LCFF aimed to provide more equitable funding to schools and introduced a new framework for evaluating school performance. The LCFF required the California State Board of Education (SBE) to develop a new statewide accountability system. During the development of this new system, the SBE suspended the calculation of the API and the last API report was produced in 2013.
The Shift to the California School Dashboard
By 2017, the API was officially replaced by the California School Dashboard. The Dashboard provides a more comprehensive evaluation of school performance, using multiple measures rather than a single score. This new system assesses various aspects of school performance, including academic achievement, graduation rates, English learner progress, and school climate. The California School Dashboard aims to offer a more holistic view of school performance, helping to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
For more detailed information, visit the California Department of Education.
More information about California’s Academic Performance Index:
https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pr/api.asp
More information about the California School Dashboard:
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/cm/index.asp
