Desert Sands Gains Ground on Tests, but Chronic Absenteeism Hits 28.1%

Desert Sands Unified's latest California School Dashboard shows most academic indicators improving. But more than 1 in 4 students were chronically absent last school year, and trustees spent much of the Nov. 10, 2026, meeting debating why. The board took no action on the results. The discussion signaled that attendance, not test scores, is now the district's defining challenge.

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• Chronic absenteeism reached 28.1%, ranking the district 16th in Riverside County
• ELA proficiency at 42.53%, math at 27.78%, with a 95.6% graduation rate
• Trustees split on causes, citing community culture, immigration enforcement and the return on interventions
• Vice President Kailee Watson seeks briefings on the central kitchen and community-service graduation requirements

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Dashboard Shows Gains, but Attendance Lags

The basics: The California School Dashboard is the state's report card for districts. It draws on CAASPP, the state's standardized tests, and on the ELPAC, which measures English learners' progress. Results feed into each district's Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), the spending blueprint tied to state funding.

Why it matters: The numbers will guide LCAP priorities. They also show which student groups still need support. Chronic absenteeism is the district's main weak indicator and a stated districtwide goal.

Where things stand: Kate Keener, coordinator of assessment and accountability, walked trustees through the results. English language arts improved 3.5 points to 30.5 points below standard. Math sat at 75.9 points below standard.

Other indicators were stronger. English learner progress reached 47.9%, rated green, and college and career readiness was 62.7%. Suspensions fell to 2.8%.

"Desert Sands does have a high grad rate of 95.6%," said Keener.

The weak spot was attendance. "28.1 percent of Desert Sands students were chronically absent last school year," Keener said. The figure ranks the district 16th in the county. On overall academics, the district remains mid-pack in Riverside County.

The debate over causes: Trustee Michael Duran (Trustee Area 5) noted that the three Coachella Valley districts all trail on attendance. That pointed trustees toward regional causes rather than problems unique to Desert Sands.

District staff member Marcus Wood called the problem cultural. He cited One Future Coachella and urged the wider community to step in. "We need our politicians and our folks in the community to speak of this," said Wood.

Student Board Member Hadassah Martinez offered a different explanation. "My personal theory is that it may be due to the immigration practices that are at work currently," she said. Board President Humberto Alvarez (Trustee Area 2) noted that attendance was worse during COVID.

The other side: Watson (Trustee Area 1) pushed back on the upbeat tone of the presentation. "I'm not as optimistic about the numbers as maybe everybody is," said Watson. She said she wants to review the return on investment of the district's attendance interventions.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This was an information item, and the board took no vote. The discussion still sets the agenda.

Families in the valley's three districts share an attendance problem that crosses district lines. Immigrant families may be affected if enforcement is driving absences, as Martinez suggested, though no data was presented to test that theory. Program staff may face scrutiny if Watson's call for return-on-investment data moves forward. Math remains the steepest academic climb.

What's next: The results will inform LCAP priorities. Watson's request suggests attendance programs may face a cost-effectiveness review. No timeline was set.

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Watson Seeks Kitchen, Graduation Briefings

Why it matters: Future agenda requests need three board votes to land on an agenda. Two requests from Watson drew support from Trustee Linda Porras (Trustee Area 4), putting them one vote short.

Where things stand: Watson asked staff to research community service as a high school graduation requirement. She also asked for a staff conference on Nutrition Services' central kitchen, including its scratch-cooking plans and timeline.

"We have never received a staff conference presentation from Nutrition Services," said Watson.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No vote was taken. A community-service requirement would affect every graduating student and the schools that track hours. A central kitchen briefing would give parents and staff their first public look at how school meals may change.

What's next: Both requests need a third trustee's support to be scheduled.

The meeting was Alvarez's last as board president. He closed by asking for a moment of silence in recognition of Monica.

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Minor Items

• Closed session: The board reported five stipulated expulsions and a settlement agreement, moved by Watson and seconded by Porras (For: 5, Against: 0). It also unanimously appointed new principals for Franklin Elementary and Palm Desert High.
• Consent batches: All consent batches passed by voice vote, with the student member abstaining on personnel items. Approvals included donations from Altura Credit Union ($1,000 for technology) and Leanne Morgan ($100 for AVID at Palm Desert Charter Middle School).
• Retirements: The board recognized the retirements of Jenny Yoder, Estela Juarez and Rosalie Perez.
• Recognitions: Three Carrillo Ranch Elementary staff members were commended for saving a student. Nine students earned perfect CAASPP scores in math and ELA, "just 9 achieved this distinction, approximately 0.07%," said Wood, out of 12,953 test-takers. Employees of the Month Erin Mix (Kennedy Elementary) and Dr. Dan Borgen were also honored.
• Environmental hearing: Public hearing 044/2026-2027 on a preliminary environmental assessment opened and closed within one minute, with no speakers.

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Looking Ahead

The board's next regular meeting is Dec. 15, 2026.