[CA] CALPADS Update Flash #312 – Streamlined EOY Reporting for 2025–26

The California Department of Education (CDE) released CALPADS Update Flash #312 with major CALPADS EOY changes for the 2025–26 school year.

First, CALPADS will combine four End-of-Year submissions into two. Next, the new timeline will align data review, certification, and the California School Dashboard release more closely.

These changes aim to give Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) more time to finalize graduation data. At the same time, they reduce the number of separate EOY submissions that teams must manage.

Why CALPADS EOY Changes Matter

Senate Bill 114 requires the CDE to publish the California School Dashboard earlier each year. Therefore, the CDE also moved the CALPADS EOY Amendment Window deadline earlier.

For the 2025–26 cycle, the CDE plans to release the Dashboard on October 15, 2026. As a result, the EOY Amendment Window closes on July 31, 2026.

This deadline falls one week earlier than the prior year. Therefore, LEAs should build their local review and approval timelines around the new schedule.

For background on the prior process, review MeasureED’s EOY certification process overview.

CALPADS EOY Changes: Two New Submissions

CALPADS now organizes EOY reporting into EOY 1 and EOY 2.

First, EOY 1 combines most program, attendance, and special education data. However, it does not include one-year graduate and completer data.

Next, EOY 2 combines course completion, Career Technical Education (CTE), work-based learning, and graduate data. This structure gives LEAs more time to finalize graduation information.

What EOY 1 Includes

EOY 1 brings together data from the former EOY 2, 3, and 4 submissions. In addition, it adds Attendance Recovery data through the STAS file and Expanded Learning Program data through the LEAP file.

EOY 1 includes:

• Student program eligibility and participation
• Student incidents
• Cumulative enrollment
• Attendance and Attendance Recovery
• Reclassified Fluent English Proficient student counts
• Homeless and immigrant student data
• Expanded Learning Program data
• Special education data
• Students with disabilities who graduate or drop out

LEAs must certify EOY 1 by July 17, 2026. Then, SELPAs must approve EOY 1 by July 31, 2026.

If the deadline falls on a weekend, CALPADS moves it to the next business day.

For related special education guidance, see MeasureED’s CALPADS special education data update.

What EOY 2 Includes

EOY 2 combines data from the former EOY 1 submission with one-year graduate and completer data from the former EOY 3 submission.

EOY 2 includes:

• Course completion for grades 7–12
• Career Technical Education participation and completion
• Work-based learning indicators
• One-year graduate and completer counts

Unlike EOY 1, EOY 2 does not require SELPA approval. In addition, EOY 2 has no amendment window.

LEAs must certify EOY 2 by August 17, 2026. On that same date, CALPADS will pull the student cohort data.

Therefore, LEAs should review graduation and completer records before the deadline. This timing matters because the cohort pull occurs one day after the August 15 graduate cutoff.

Benefits of the New EOY Structure

The new structure offers several benefits for LEAs.

First, it reduces the burden of managing four separate EOY submissions. Next, it gives schools more time to confirm graduate and completer information.

In addition, the new schedule better aligns College/Career Indicator data with the correct student cohort. It also brings Certification Validation Rules and Certification Data Discrepancies into the new submission structure.

As a result, LEAs can review and resolve errors within fewer submission cycles.

Data Discrepancy Timeline

CALPADS began showing the new EOY 1 and EOY 2 discrepancies after September 9, 2025. The system then converted those discrepancies to Certification Data Discrepancies when the EOY window opened on May 5, 2026.

Therefore, CALPADS coordinators should review the updated error messages and confirm that staff understand the new submission cycle.

What LEAs Should Do

LEAs should take these steps:

• Update local EOY calendars with the new deadlines
• Assign owners for EOY 1 and EOY 2 data
• Review Attendance Recovery and Expanded Learning Program data
• Coordinate EOY 1 special education review with the SELPA
• Validate graduate and completer records before August 17
• Review Certification Data Discrepancies early and often

These CALPADS EOY changes support earlier, more accurate reporting. Most importantly, they help LEAs align their data review with Dashboard and cohort reporting timelines.

Need help managing CALPADS deadlines, data review, or EOY certification? Connect with a MeasureED CALPADS consultant today.