CARLSBAD UNIFIED CONNECTIONS

Last week our Instructional Services team presented the Board of Trustees with a mid-year update on our LCAP Goals and Success Indicators. The LCAP – California's Local Control and Accountability Plan – directs districts to undertake a continuous improvement process. First, the district must identify both areas of strength and areas that require additional focus; then it must set goals to address them. In Carlsbad Unified, we challenge ourselves each year by setting ambitious goals, and we review progress toward those goals each February in the form of a mid-year update.

Our LCAP addresses goals in three broad categories: Pupil Outcomes, Conditions for Learning, and Engagement. To prepare the annual mid-year report to the Board we analyze a variety of data points to identify our successes and challenges, including student performance on standardized tests; the percentage of students taking AP, Honors, and Community College Courses; parent information nights; professional development for our teachers and staff; and much more. Our mid-year report can be found here.

Pupil Outcomes (Goal 1): Ensure that students demonstrate academic growth and proficiencies so they leave TK-12 ready for college/career.

To measure progress toward academic goals, California uses its Smarter Balanced testing program to measure student performance in Math and English Language Arts in the spring. Carlsbad Unified additionally relies on a number of local measures of student learning and growth. For example, we administer STAR assessments in the fall and winter. These assessments correlate with end-of-the-year Smarter Balanced assessments, and also measure students’ interim progress to inform instruction throughout the year. Other data points we monitor include early literacy rates, reclassification rates for second language learners, credit recovery/intervention rates, and more.

We are pleased to report that our mid-year data looks great, and we are on track to meet our Goal 1 targets at the end of the year. Those targets include:

• Increase the percentage of all students scoring "high" or "typical" growth in math and ELA, measured by district interim (STAR) assessment.

• Increase the percentage of students meeting or exceeding end-of-year grade-level math and ELA standards, measured by district interim (STAR) assessment (Fall to Spring).

• Maintain the percentage of graduates completing A-G requirements.

• Increase the percentage of high school students enrolled in at least one Honors, Advanced Placement, or Community College Class.

• Increase the percentage of all students meeting or exceeding standards on SBAC (ELA, Math, Science).

• Decrease the percentage of all students in the “standard not met” band on SBAC (ELA, Math, Science)

We’re also pleased to report that individual student groups, including students with special needs, socio-economically disadvantaged students, English learners, Hispanic students, Black students, and homeless students have demonstrated significant growth in their fall/winter STAR test, Lexia EL, and/or Achieve 3000 performance.

Conditions for Learning (Goal 2): Align student learning to State-adopted standards supported by materials, instruction, and technology in a fiscally sound, safe and clean environment.

Although the goals in this category are considered non-academic, they play an important role in supporting the instructional programs at our schools.

We’re happy to report that we are also on track to meet our Goal 2 targets at the end of the year. Those targets include:

• Provide professional development and training regarding effective teaching strategies.

• Implement Year 1 actions in the district’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging strategic plan.

• Administer student check-in surveys to measure school safety, school connectedness, school climate, and social emotional/mental health.

• Maintain the percentage of Cleaning Standards being 'met' (as measured by the Custodial Supervisor's monthly assessments), with an emphasis on bathrooms.

Engagement (Goal 3): Engage parents staff and community to promote unique educational opportunities for students

We value the participation of our parents and the community in our educational programs, whether through PTA activities, business/career relationships, classroom volunteers, or families attending Back to School Nights and Open Houses. Notably, Carlsbad Unified has offered 19 Parent University workshops so far this year, on topics such as the Impact of Social Media, Career Education, Anxiety, and Cyber Safety. Surveys report that 100% of attendees have found the workshops to be relevant.

Additionally, we are committed to helping students develop the soft skills that are integral to a well-rounded education. We continue to monitor the percentage of our students who demonstrate our Graduate Profile attributes: Effective Communicator and Collaborator; Lifelong Learner; Critical Thinker; College & Career Ready Scholar; Ethical and Responsible Citizen; and Self-Directed Individual.

We are pleased to report that we are also on track to meet our Goal 3 targets at the end of the year. Those targets include:

• Maintain participant-reported relevance of Parent University sessions and increase participation.

• Establish a baseline of the number of students participating in current work-based learning (WBL) experiences by completing the CUSD Career Exploration Continuum; and develop a participation growth metric for monitoring/tracking in future years.

• Increase the percentage of students demonstrating graduate profile attributes in grades 3-12.

Carlsbad Unified believes it is vitally important to our students, parents, and the community that we hold our educational programs to a high level of accountability. Our LCAP process is one of the many tools we use to monitor progress and demonstrate improvement, as we strive to meet our mission of providing every student with an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment.

On February 28, 2024, the California Department of Education (CDE) named Aviara Oaks Middle School (AOMS) as a recipient of the 2024 California Distinguished Schools award. Twenty-two middle and high schools in San Diego County were recognized with this honor.

A total of 293 middle schools and high schools across the state were selected for the program, which recognizes schools closing the achievement gap and schools demonstrating exceptional student performance.

"It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 293 secondary schools for their efforts to provide exemplary public education to all students," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement. "Excellent middle schools and high schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people."

Schools are recognized for exceptional student performance based on achieving exemplary performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, reducing suspensions, and demonstrating high graduation rates, according to the California Department of Education.

Congratulations to the students, staff, and families of AOMS!

We’re using a communication platform called ParentSquare to connect parents and school.

Please download the ParentSquare app to stay updated on all of the news and announcements from your school throughout the year. Click here to learn more on our website.

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We provide every student an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment. #cusdlearns

Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.net
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/CarlsbadUnifiedSchools
Twitter: @CarlsbadUSD