Academic Performance Index (API)

A state accountability system tat was enacted by legislation in May 1999.  The API will consist of a variety of indicators to be used to measure the performance of schools.  Expected annual percentage growth targets for all school based on their API baseline score will be calculated with a minimum percentage growth target of 5% annually.

Additional and Appropriate Services

Additional and Appropriate Services is an instructional program designed for ELL students who have attained reasonable fluency in English.  Reasonable fluency means that ELL is at the intermediate or native fluency levels of English language development.  Program services include English language development, additional reading and writing, SDAIE, special materials, and primary language support, if needed.

Advisory Council/Committee

An advisory group of parents, community people, and/or school employees.  Each funding source has specific guidelines regarding the makeup, role, and responsibility for the advisory council/committee.  Advisory groups must be involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs.

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

A program jointly financed by federal, state, and in California, local governments to provide cash assistance to needy families with dependent children.  Under the 1997 federal welfare reform law AFDC was replaced with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Allocated Personnel Unit (APU)

A number based on enrollment to justify staffing.  School-level personnel receive an APU total from which they plan the staffing for their school.

Allocation

The yearly funding made available to a district by the state or federal government to carry out the responsibility of a categorical program.

Americans with Disability Act (ADA)

A federal law requiring accessibility and equal services for persons with physical disabilities.

Assembly Bill (AB)

A bill that is presented to California State Legislature originating in the Assembly.

Assurance

A guarantee made to the state that the district has taken specific actions to meet the requirements of a categorical program.

At-Risk Student

A student who is “at-risk” of dropping out of school or who is not progressing physically, mentally, and/or socially at a level expected for his/her age group.  Some “at-risk” factors are low self-esteem, poor emotional health, no self-discipline, drug and alcohol abuse, poor nutrition, and deficiency in English language, and/or below grade level achievement.

Attendance Area

The geographical area in which the children live who are normally served by a particular school.

Audit

An investigation or examination of procedures by accountants to determine that adequate accounts and records are maintained and that funds are properly utilized in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Authorization

The promise of funds for categorical programs.  Congress usually authorizes funds and the appropriations committees set funding amounts aside.

Average Daily Attendance (ADA)

A count of students in attendance.  The figure is the basis for calculating the amount of money provided for the basic educational program in the school district.

Baseline Data

Information that is gathered from assessments or surveys at the beginning or during a school year or project which can be used as the basis for establishing the rate of change and direction of change resulting from the implementation of a program.  This is the beginning of the evaluation process.

Basic/Core Program

The curriculum and services provided by the district for all students in all schools.

Basic Skills

The knowledge of abilities determined to be necessary for a person to function independently and successfully.

BCLAD

Bilingual Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development Certificate.  A teaching credential which indicates that the teacher has completed a course of study which includes the methodology for primary language instruction and emphasizes the language and culture in which a BCLAD credential is being undertaken, as well as embracing all the components of the CLAD certificate.  A BCLAD certificate in the language of emphasis is required in order to provide instruction in that language.

Bilingual

Makes use of two languages.

Bylaws

A set of rules/procedures by which a group or committee operates.

CalWORKS

With the 1997 welfare reform, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS) replaces the AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and GAIN (Greater Avenues for Independence) programs in California.

Capital Outlay

A category of cost in a budget, which relates to equipment and facilities having a life span of more than one year, are repaired rather than replaced, and usually cost more than $250.

Carryover Funds

Funds not used during the funding year in which they have been appropriated.  Most categorical programs allow the funds to be retained and expended during the following funding year if approved in the application.

Categorical Funds

Funds not used during the funding year in which they have been appropriated.  Most categorical programs allow the funds to be retained and expended during the following funding year if approved in the application.

CBEDS

California Basic Education Data System.  An annual survey on attendance and instructors submitted to the CDE each October.  It is the basis for some categorical funding allocations from the state and within districts.

CDS Code

County District School Code.  A fourteen-digit number assigned by the state to each school.  For example:  County (Stanislaus) 50, District (Oakdale) 75564, School (OHS) 5035654.  All schools in the state are identified in this manner.  Oakdale High School’s number is 50-75564-5035654.

Census

A population and housing survey conducted by the federal government once every ten years.  Census data is used to allocate certain federal categorical funds.

Centralized Services

Centralized Services are district-level costs that are directly related to the planning, implementing, evaluating, and documenting of categorically funded activities/programs.

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

A form that is completed to determine if a student is eligible for Migrant Services.

Certificated Employee

An employee whose position requires a teaching, administrative, or other education credential.

CLAD

Cross-culture Language and Academic Development certificate.  A teaching credential, which indicates that the teacher has completed a course of study that includes the following knowledge and skills:  language structure; first and second language development; methodology of bilingual, English language development, and content instruction; culture; and cultural diversity.  A CLAD certificate is required to provide sheltered instruction and English language development to ELL students.

Classified Employee

A school employee who is not certificated, such as a budget director, program technician, secretary, clerical aide, custodian, instructional aide, bus driver, etc.

Comparability

A principle that each pupil in a school district receives essentially the same amount of financial support from state and local efforts before any categorical aid moneys are applied to any school in the district.

Compliance

Compliance means having followed all the rules of the categorical funding source(s).  The term is used to indicate whether a district’s use of categorical aid moneys is applied to any school in the district.

Component

A part of the total academic program, such as language arts or math; or a part of the program that supports the academic programs, such as staff development or parent involvement.

Consolidated Application

Provides a means for a school district to consolidate (group together) most categorical state and federal education funds.  This application includes the following funds:  SIP, EIA/LEP, Tenth Grade Counseling, Title I, Title II, Title IV, and Title VI.

Contract

A negotiated agreement generally between two parties in which a certain task or tasks are agreed to be completed.  The contract is usually finalized in a written agreement.

Coordinated Compliance Review (CCR)

A compliance review of categorically funded programs conducted every four years by the California Department of Education (CDE).  The purpose of the CCR is to simplify, streamline, and coordinate the legally required compliance monitoring of specially funded program and simultaneously maintain a commitment to students with special needs.  The process includes a self-review completed by the district and each school and a validation review visit by a team of CDE consultants.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

Federal or state increases based on various indices of inflation.

Criterion Referenced Test (CRT)

A test that measures the student’s mastery of a particular skill or skills.

Curriculum

Courses of study offered by a school or district.

Demographic Sheet

Ongoing demographic documentation of ELL and FEP students.  Completed two times a year for the Department of Special Projects.

District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC)

Whenever there are 51 or more ELL students in a school district, a DELAC is formed consisting of at least one parent member from each ELAC.  Other school and district level staff may be on the DELAC as long as the parents are in the majority.  Formerly the District Bilingual Advisory Committee (DBAC).

Economic Impact Aid (EIA)

A state-funded program that provides compensatory funds to schools.  These funds are allocated for two groups of students:  (1) State Compensatory Education (SCE) funds are for K-12 students who are at risk of failing to meet state and/or district standards in reading, language, and/or math; and (2) Limited English Proficient (LEP) funds are for K-12 students who are English Language Learners.  EIA funds provide supplementary services to meet the assessed needs of the qualified student.

Economic Impact Aid/Limited English Proficient (EIA/LEP)

Services to ELL students that are designed to develop fluency in English as effectively and efficiently as possible, promote positive self-concepts, promote cross-cultural understanding, and provide equal opportunity for academic achievement.

Education Code

The state laws pertaining to the California educational system.

Educationally Disadvantaged Youth (EDY)

All children who are at risk of failing to meet district standards in reading, language arts, and/or math.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

A program to provide special English language instruction for English Language Learners.

English Language Development (ELD)

Specialized instruction designed for students whose primary language is other than English.  ELD is a specific curriculum that addresses the teaching of the English language according to the level of language proficiency of the ELL.  The stages/levels of ELD are pre-production (PP), early production (EP), speech emergence (SE), intermediate fluency (IF), and native fluency (NF).

English Language Learners (ELL)

A term used to describe students who speak a first language other than English and have been designated Limited English Proficient (LEP).

English Learner Advisory Committee

When there are 21 or more ELL students at a school, an English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) is established.  This committee serves in an advisory capacity relative to services for English Language Learners.  Formerly the Bilingual Advisory Committee (BAC).

Entitlement

The amount of money a school district receives to operate a categorical program for one fiscal year.

ESEA

Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  An act that was passed by Congress in 1965.  It has been amended many times and provides federal categorical funds, such as Title I, Title II, Title IV, Title VI, and Migrant Education.

Evaluation

A measurement of the results of a program or the success of a project.  The process of obtaining and using reliable information about the effectiveness of a program so that judgments can be made about the program.

Fiscal Year

For the state, the fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30 of any particular year.  The federal fiscal year begins October 1 and ends September 30.

Fluent English Proficient (FEP)

Students who have satisfactorily learned or know English.  A language classification designated for students who have been initially classified as fluent in English on the IPT or who have been formally redesignated from ELL or FEP.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

The ratio of time expended in a part-time position to that of a full-time position.

Funding Source

District, state, federal, or private appropriations or grants that provide money for educational programs.

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

A program that provides funds and services for students identified as exceptionally able or talented.

Governor’s High Achieving/Improving School Program (HA/ISP)

A state funded program enacted by legislation in May 1999.  The program will provide monetary rewards for schools meetings or exceeding their API growth targets.  With continued improvement, schools would be eligible for an annual reward.

Governor’s Reading Initiative

A state funded program enacted by legislation in May 1999.  The initiative includes the Elementary School Intensive Reading Program (K-4), the California Reading Professional Development Program, the Governor’s Reading Award Program, the Public Involvement Reading Campaign, and the Governor’s Teacher Scholars Program.  Funds are available through an application process for each of these programs.

Grade Level

When a child is on grade level, he/she has learned how to use the skills children are expected to know in a certain grade.

High School Exit Exam

A state required high school exit exam enacted by legislation in May 1999.  Beginning with the Class of 2004, all students will be required to pass exit exams as a condition of high school graduation.  Exit exams will be given in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Home Language Survey (HLS)

School districts are required by law to determine whether a language other than English is spoken at home.  The Home Language Survey is the approved instrument for doing this.

Immediate Intervention/Underperforming Schools Program (II/USP)

A state funded program enacted by legislation in May 1999.  The program will provide resources to schools for immediate intervention and impose sanctions for those that fail to make progress.  Schools below 50% on state testing (currently SAT 9) would be invited or required to participate.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs are those costs that are not readily identifiable with the activities funded by the categorical program but are nevertheless incurred for the joint benefit of those activities.  Accounting, auditing, payroll, personnel, budgeting, and purchasing services are examples of services that typically benefit several programs and for which appropriate costs may be attributed by means of an indirect cost rate.

Individual Education Plan (IEP)

A written educational plan tailored to the needs of a student with disabilities.  An IEP, agreed to by a parent or guardian, is required for each Special Education student.

Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA)

Federal law established and specifying requirements for Special Education programs.

In-service Training

Processes or programs that help adults develop skills and increase their effectiveness.  In-service training activities may include parents, teachers, aides, administrators, and may be conducted by members of any of these groups as well as by consultants.  Title I regulations require that parents be provided training opportunities in the following areas:  assisting their child academically at home, effective parent involvement techniques, parent literary skills, etc.

Instructional Aide

A term used in the Education Code to cover persons employed to assist classroom teachers and other certificated personnel in the performance of their duties and in the supervision of pupils and in instructional tasks which, in the judgment of the certificated personnel to whom the instructional aide is assigned, may be performed by persons not licensed as a classroom teacher.

Instructional Assistants Bilingual (IAB)

Adults who speak a language other than English who provide instructional support to ELL students under the supervision of a certificated person.

Job Description

A board approved statement of the duties and responsibilities of the person assigned to a position.

Language Development

Acquisition of the listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills needed to communicate ideas.

Limited English Proficient (LEP)

Students who speak a language other than English, have been given a language assessment, and are not proficient in English are classified as LEP.  The new term for these students is English Language Learners (ELL).

Local Educational Agency (LEA)

A board of education or some legal authority having administrative control over public education in a county or district.

Mainstreaming

Placing Special Education students in a regular classroom for part of the day to participate in a regular program.

Mentor Teacher Program

The state-funded Mentor Teacher Program provides funds to school districts to pay stipends and support costs for exemplary teachers to provide assistance to new teachers and provide other staff development services.  By the 2001-02 school year, the current Mentor Teacher Program will be repealed and the Peer Assistance and Review Program (PAR) will be fully implemented.  OJUSD has implemented PAR 8/1/00.

Multicultural Education

A curriculum area that deals with the development of an appreciation of the contributions of all ethnic groups to man’s accumulated knowledge, ideas, skills, attitudes, arts, science, and philosophy.

Needs Assessment

The use of test data, surveys, questionnaires, or other processes to determine the educational needs of students and staff prior to planning and writing a program designed to meet those needs.

Norm-References Test (NRT)

Tests that measure the academic achievement of students and rank the student’s performance with other students nation-wide.

Parent Education/Parent Involvement

Activities based on the expressed needs and interests of parents designed to enable parents to become involved in the education of their children through understanding and support of the instructional program; and to increase their effectiveness as parents.

Parent Participation

The participation of parents in planning, implementing, and evaluating the school program.  This includes ways in which parents help with the education of their children both at home and at school.

Peer Assistance and Review Program (PAR)

A peer evaluation process for permanent teachers enacted by legislation in May 1999 that replaces the Mentor Teacher as of July 1, 2001.  The PAR funds may also be spent for the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program (BTSA), the California Pre-Internship Teaching Program, district intern programs, the activities of the previous Mentor Teacher Program, or other teach training support.  Districts are required to develop a plan for PAR and have PAR fully implemented by the 2001-02 school year.

Performance Objective

A statement that specifies the expected or desirable learned outcome as a result of a specific instructional program or treatment.

Prescription

The activities or task the child is assigned in order to learn a skill or concept.

Primary Language (L1)

The dominant language spoken by a student upon entering school.

Priority

An item (goal, objective, program, activity) that is considered to be of more importance, urgency, or need that decision makers will rank it higher and allocate to it extra resources and preference over other items.

Program Quality Review (PQR)

An in-depth review by the staff of one curricular area is conducted.  Student work is reviewed and an improvement plan is developed, written, and implemented.  Two consultants from other districts assist the school leadership team during the PQR process.

Public School Accountability Act (PSAA)

A state accountability program enacted by legislation in May 1999.  The act includes the Academic Performance Index (API), the Immediate Intervention/Underperforming Schools Program, and the Governor’s High Achieving/Improving Schools Program.

Redesignation

A process by which a student’s English Language proficiency classification is reconsidered.  The formal process by which a student is redesignated from ELL to FEP.

Regulation

Rules that usually explain or expand some part of the law.  Regulations are published in the Federal Register and/or in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5.

Reliability

The extent to which a person would obtain the same relative score on a test were it to be re-administered; that is, the extent to which the test is consistent in measuring.

Revision

Refers to revising or changing an application or school plan in light of new evaluation data, needs or changes in funding that require the change.

School Based Coordinated Program (SBCP)

To provide more flexibility to schools as well as a focus on student needs rather than a state-funding source.  Certain state categorical funds can be coordinated in to one SBCP funding budget.  Coordination allows services to be extended to other students after designated funding source needs have been provided to identified students.

School Improvement Program (SIP)

A program to support the efforts of each participating school to improve instruction, auxiliary services, school environment, and school organization to meet the needs of pupils at that school.  These efforts are thus directed to the goal of improving the school’s entire curriculum and instructional program for all students.  The standards of quality contained in the Program Quality Review Criteria are the guides for the school’s improvement efforts and include all curricular areas and the instructional support areas of teaching and learning, learning support, and teaching and learning of English learners.  SIP is incorporated in the SBCP.

School Site Council (SSC)

A council composed of the principal, teachers, other school staff, parents, and at the secondary level, students.  The SSC has on-going responsibility in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the School Improvement Program (SIP) and/or School Based Coordinated Program (SBCP).

School Site Plan

A written plan developed by the School Site Council that describes the school’s core curriculum program, supplementary services/programs, objectives for improvement, and activities for which categorical funds will be used.  The Site Plan guides the implementation and evaluation of the school’s improvement activities.  It also includes the categorical funding budget and student achievement and other assessment data.  The Site Plan is an on-going document that may be revised as needed to meet the needs of the various populations at the school.

SDAIE

Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English.  A method of instruction used to provide access to the core curriculum for ELL students.  An instructional process that simplifies the use of English to meet the academic needs of ELL students.

Skill

The power to do something as a result of training, practice, knowledge, or experience.

Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA)

The administration of Special Education services, ranging from a single school district to regional or countywide groups.

Staff Development

A program of learning experiences designed to foster the professional growth of a school staff and aimed at making the school staff more knowledgeable about curriculum and instructional strategies and to be better able to meet the overall needs of the children served by the school.

Standardized Achievement Test

A testing instrument to measure the amount of skills an individual or a group has learned.  It is called standardized because it has been used with a sample of pupils that represent all groups in the total population.  The achieved score can be converted to various norms that compare a student’s performance to that of others in the group.

Standardized Test

An instrument having specific directions on how it is administered, definite rules on how it is scored, items which are systematically structured, and evidence of overall validity and reliability.

Structured English Immersion

An English acquisition process for young children in which nearly all classroom instruction is in English but with the curriculum and presentation designed for children who are learning the language.  Also known as Sheltered English Immersion.

Student Study Team

A school-based team of teachers, administrators, and specialists designed to review the needs of students who are having difficulty in school or who are at risk, in order to modify their school program or refer them for specialized assistance.

Supplant

To replace or to be used instead of.  Categorical funds may not be used to supplant state or local funds for education.

Supplementary

Additional, over and above what is already required.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF was created by the 1997 welfare reform law to replace AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), EA (Emergency Assistance) and GAIN (Greater Avenues of Independence).  TANF provides a block grant to states to assist needy families and creates new work responsibilities and time limits.

Tenth Grade Counseling

State funds used to counsel and to conference with all high school tenth graders and their parents to review the student’s records and progress toward graduation and plans for achievement of post high school plans.

Title I, Part A – Helping Disadvantaged Children

A federal-funded program to provide high-quality opportunities for students in high-poverty schools to meet district and state content and performance standards.  These funds are intended to provide services for students who are at risk of failing to meet state and district standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics.

Title I, Part C – Migrant Education

A federal-funded program to provide high-quality and comprehensive educational services for migratory children to help reduce the educational disruptions and other problems that result from repeated moves.  The program provides appropriate educational services that address the migrant student’s special needs and is designed to help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, or other factors that inhibit the ability of these children to do well in school.  The region operates Oakdale Joint Unified School District’s program.

Title II – Eisenhower Professional Development

A federal-funded program focused on enhancing the expertise of teachers and other school staff to enable them to teach all children in the areas of math and science.  A small percentage of the funds may be used to provide staff development opportunities for other curricular areas such as, language arts and history/social science.

Title IV – Safe & Drug-Free Schools and Communities

A federal-funded program to provide funds to support and create learning environments that are free of violence and drugs and to provide drug and alcohol prevention education to all students.

Title VI – Innovative Strategies Education

A federal-funded program for the purpose of providing support for innovative programs, over and above those provided by district funds.  The authorized program areas are:  programs using technology, instructional and educational materials, reform projects, at-risk programs, literacy programs, educational enhancement, Goals 2000 programs, and school improvement.

Title IX – Indian Education

A federal-funded program to provide services to Native Americans to assist them in meeting state and district student performance and content standards.

Tobacco – Use Prevention Education (TUPE)

State funds provided through an application process for tobacco-specific student instruction, reinforcement activities, special events and cessation programs for students.  As a prerequisite for receiving funds, school districts that have a fully implemented tobacco free school district board policy are eligible to apply for funding.  Programs in grades four through eight are funded through an entitlement process, and programs in grades nine through twelve are funded through a competitive grant process.

Validity

The extent to which a test or other measuring instrument measures what it was intended to measure.

Waiver

A formal request from a local district board to the State Board of Education to set aside a state regulation or law for a specific school or district.  The state Board of Education is not empowered to waive any requirements of federally funded programs.

WASC Blend with PQR (High Schools)

An in-depth accreditation review of the school’s programs and services.  The school conducts a self-review and a visiting team then conducts an on-site review to validate the self-review.  Commendations and recommendations are issued for implementation.

Glossary of Acronyms