Abbreviations & Acronyms

CAHSEE – California High School Exit Exam - In California, all high school students must pass a test to earn a high school diploma. The test is called the CAHSEE. Some students with disabilities do not have to pass this test. California created the test to improve student achievement in high schools. The test helps to ensure that students graduate from high school with grade level skills in reading, writing, and math. Students first take this test in grade ten. If they do not pass the test in grade ten, they have more chances to take the test. In grade eleven, they can take the test two times. In grade twelve, they have up to five times to take the test.

CCSS – Common Core State Standards - Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade. In California, the State Board of Education decides on the standards for all students, from kindergarten through high school. Since 2010, 45 states have adopted the same standards for English and math. These standards are called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Having the same standards helps all students get a good education, even if they change schools or move to a different state. Teachers, parents, and education experts designed the standards to prepare students for success in college and the workplace. The California Department of Education helps schools make sure that all students are meeting the standards.

LCAP - Local Control Accountability Plan - Under the new funding rules, school districts are required to adopt Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) that demonstrate how funds will be spent. The LCAP must be adopted by July 1, 2015, and every three years thereafter. The LCAP must be updated each year and include annual goals in eight areas:

• Student Achievement

• Student Engagement

• School Climate

• Parent Involvement

• Basic Services

• Implementation of Common Core State Standards

• Course Access

• Other Student Outcomes

The plan must include both goals for the school district and for each numerically significant subgroup (30 or more students). The plan must align with the district’s annual budget and specify the actions a school district will take to achieve the goals. School districts are also required to solicit input from employees, parents, and students in crafting the LCAP.

LCFF - Local Control Funding Formula —changes the way the State of California allocates funds to school districts. The LCFF provides base funding for all students as well as supplemental and concentration funding to support students from low income families, students with limited English skills, and foster youth. The LCFF went into effect as of July 1, 2013. Under the LCFF, LMUSD will receive the bulk of its funding based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) in four grade spans (K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12). This funding is called the “base rate.” The base rate includes funding for all of LMUSD’s students as well as additional support for K-3 class size reduction and high school career technical education.

SBAC – Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium - The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) is a state-led consortium working to develop next-generation assessments that accurately measure student progress toward college- and career-readiness. Smarter Balanced is one of two multistate consortia awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 to develop an assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) by the 2014-15 school year.