The California Department of Education (CDE) has released CALPADS Update Flash #314, outlining important changes to special education data reporting for the 2025–26 school year.
These updates include new data fields, revised codes, validation changes, reporting deadlines, and best practices that help Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) submit accurate and compliant CALPADS data.
Fall 1 Certification Deadline: December 12, 2025
LEAs must certify their Fall 1 data by December 12, 2025. Although SELPA approval is encouraged, LEAs do not need it until the amendment window closes in January.
Why this deadline matters
The December 12 certification affects several important state processes.
Specifically, CDE will use certified LEA data to calculate disproportionality risk ratios. In addition, the agency will use these data to generate Annual Determination Letters (ADLs), which are scheduled for release in February 2026. As a result, LEAs will have more time to complete Compliance Improvement Monitoring (CIM) activities.
Fall 1 data includes:
- Disability, program setting, and race/ethnicity for students with disabilities
- Late annual plan reviews and reevaluations as of Census Day (October 1, 2025)
To identify overdue meetings, LEAs should run Monitoring Report 16.21. Additionally, a new filter helps staff identify students enrolled on Census Day who may appear as non-compliant.
New Fields Added to the PLAN File
To support IDEA Part C to Part B transition requirements, CDE added two new fields to the PLAN file.
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 23.34 | Records the Part C to Part B Transition Conference Date |
| 23.35 | Indicates whether the IFSP includes a transition plan |
LEAs only need to report these fields for children with an IFSP and a Plan Effective Start Date of July 1, 2025, or later.
Code Set Updates
CDE also updated several code sets for the 2025–26 reporting year.
New Code
- 205 – Home/community-based instruction (infants and preschoolers)
Retired Codes
- 310 – Head Start Program
- 320 – Child Care Facility
- 570 – Charter Schools (use Code 510 – Regular Classroom instead)
- 350 – Small and Group Instruction
Updated Code
- 640 is now County Community School.
In addition, CDE expanded Referring Party Codes to include Regional Centers, Social Workers, Early Intervention Providers, and other Part C programs.
Validation Changes for Fall 2025
CDE introduced several new and updated validation rules.
For example, CALPADS now checks for:
- Missing or invalid Part C to Part B transition fields
- Incorrect District of Special Education Accountability (DSEA)
- Invalid Special Education Status for underage students
These validation rules help LEAs identify and correct reporting errors earlier in the submission process. Tables 3 and 4 of Flash #314 contain the complete list.
Degree of Support Is Now Required
Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, Field 23.16 – Degree of Support is required on all applicable PLAN records.
If this field is missing, LEAs should update the record using a Plan Effective Start Date on or before October 1, 2025.
This information supports CalSAAS assignment monitoring and helps confirm that teachers hold the appropriate credentials for each student’s support needs.
Fall Roadshows and Training
To help LEAs prepare for Fall reporting, CDE will offer in-person and virtual CALPADS Special Education Data Roadshows.
Training topics include:
- Fall 1 reporting updates
- SPP/APR indicators
- Annual Determination Letters (ADLs)
- Monitoring reports
- Timely annual meetings
For additional information, contact Isabell Robertson at irobertson@cde.ca.gov.
Best Practice: Submit Incident Data Throughout the Year
Rather than waiting until End-of-Year reporting, CDE recommends submitting incident data every month.
This recommendation includes restraint and seclusion incidents. Furthermore, CDE plans to launch a new RealTime Incident Report this winter to help LEAs monitor submissions throughout the year.
Stay Ahead of CALPADS Changes
Keeping up with CALPADS reporting requirements helps schools improve data quality, reduce compliance risks, and avoid last-minute corrections.
If your team needs support with Fall 1 reporting, special education data, or ongoing CALPADS compliance, the MeasureED team is here to help.
Connect with a MeasureED CALPADS Consultant to learn how we can support your district.
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