March 20, 2013

Dear Accountability Coordinators: CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the State Board of Education (SBE) approved changes to the calculation of the Academic Performance Index (API). Specifically, the SBE approved to eliminate the requirement of lowering performance level(s) for grade eight and nine students taking the General Mathematics California Standards Test. (Currently, the General Mathematics scores for grade eight are lowered by one performance level and lowered by two performance levels for grade nine.) The approved changes will be incorporated in the 2012 Base API which is scheduled to be released this spring. Eliminating this requirement will assist schools as they transition to the Common Core. It encourages schools to concentrate on mathematics instruction that deepens students understanding of mathematical concepts. For additional information regarding the approved changes, please view the attached joint news release by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and SBE President Michael Kirst. If you have any questions regarding the changes to the calculation of the API, please contact the Academic Accountability Unit by phone at 916-319-0863 or by e-mail at aau@cde.ca.gov. Sincerely, /s/ Keric Ashley, Director Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division KA:js Attachment cc: Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Coordinators

REL#13-Per request FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2013

CONTACT: Pam Slater PHONE: 916-319-0818 E-MAIL: communications@cde.ca.gov

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson, SBE President Michael Kirst Comment on Changes to Calculation of the Base Academic Performance Index SACRAMENTOState Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and State Board of Education President Michael Kirst today issued the following joint statement regarding the State Board of Educations approval of changes to the 2012 Base Academic Performance Index: Todays action by the State Board of Education eliminates an outdated link to a former curriculum and helps our school accountability system keep pace with Californias implementation of the Common Core State Standards. These standards are more demanding for students, and focus on the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to succeed in a career and college. This adjustment also reflects the fact that the new standards offer a number of ways to develop placement options for studentsincluding the opportunity to complete Algebra 1 in eighth grade or earlier. Placement decisions for individual students are best made locally by teachers and parents. For more information, please see: SBE Agenda Item 6: Approve Changes to the Calculation of the 2012 Base API #### The State Board of Education is the governing and policy-making body for public K-12 education in California. The President of the Board is Michael W. Kirst and the Executive Director is Susan K. Burr. Board members are appointed for four-year terms by the Governor of California and are confirmed by the State Senate. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/be. The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Moremore

REL#13-perrequest 2-2-2-2-2-2-2 Superintendent Torlakson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorlaksonSSPI and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CAEducation.