Please note that this article is current for the October 2025 submission in the 2025-2026 school year.

 What is the CBEDS-ORA?

CBEDS-ORA, California Basic Educational Data System – Online Reporting Application, is a three-four page questionnaire(four for Independently Reporting Charter Schools) that is submitted online.  The paper version along with additional information from the CDE can be downloaded at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/dc/cb/.  It is a collection of student and staff data that collects school metrics that are not captured in the CALPADS system.  For example, CBEDS-ORA collects classified staff data while CALPADS collects certificated staff data.

The sections of the ORA are organized as follows:

A. Full-Time Equivalent of Classified Staff
B. Kindergarten Program Types
C. Work Visa Applications (For Charter schools only)
D. Educational Calendar
E. Estimated Number of Teacher Hires (2026-2027) for Independently Reporting Charter Schools ONLY

How do I access the CBEDS-ORA?

The website for the CBEDS-ORA is located at http://www3.cde.ca.gov/opuscbeds/login.aspx.

Your CBEDS Coordinator should have already received a User Name and Password in July.  If you haven’t, have your executive director or principal contact the CBEDS Support at cbeds@cde.ca.gov.

Filling out the School Information Form (SIF)

*CBEDS-ORA Online Glossary and Instructions may also be found here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/dc/cb/glosryinstruc.asp

 A. Full-Time Equivalent of Classified Staff

In this section, you will report the number of Classified Staff by FTE (Up to two decimal places), Gender and Race/Ethnicity. To calculate FTE, divide the total number of hours worked each day and divide it by the number of full time hours.

Below you will find excerpts of definitions of the different types of staff members as described in the CDE Published July 2025 here in the CBEDS Online Glossary and Instructions page: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/dc/cb/gicdif.asp?tabsection=0.

Definitions:

• “Paraprofessionals” include staff members who provide instructional support. Common job titles: teaching assistants, teacher aides, bilingual aides, pupil service aides, and library aides.
• “Office/clerical classified staff” are staff members who provide support to administration, business services, data processing, or support of teaching and administrative duties of the principal or department chairpersons.  Includes administrative assistants and secretaries.
• “Other classified staff” includes staff members not reported in instructional or student support, and staff below the level of assistant, deputy, or associate superintendent. Common Job titles: health services staff, plant and equipment maintenance staff, custodians, food service staff, managers, after school staff, bus drivers, security, and noon duty supervisors.”

DO NOT report adult education, ROC/P, or children’s center/preschool classified staff, teachers, administrators or pupil services certificated staff or volunteer aides.

B. Kindergarten Program Type

In this section, you will report the type of Kindergarten and/or Transitional Kindergarten programs offered by the school.

• Full Day
• Part Day
• Both Full and Part Day
• None

C. Work Visa Applications (for charter schools only)

• Report the number of H-1B work visa applications “applied for on behalf of potential employees, and the number of those visa applications that were granted.”

Per CDIF Glossary and Instructions Part C:

Applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

The intent of the H-1B provisions is to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce by authorizing the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorized to work in the U.S.

 D. Educational Calendar

Below you will find excerpts of definitions of the different types of calendars as described in the CDE Published CBEDS Administrative Manual for October 2025 (pg. 14).

• Traditional Calendar:  An educational calendar that is divided into nine months of instruction and three months of vacation during the summer.
• Single-Track Year-Round School: An educational calendar that has frequent and shorter vacation periods. The entire student body occupies the facility for on-track sessions and shares the same vacation schedules during off-track periods.
• Multitrack Year-Round School: An educational calendar divided into four to five tracks which rotate throughout the year depending on the year round calendar being used. One of the tracks is always on vacation while the others are in session.

E. Estimated Number of Teacher Hires (2026-2027)

This section (E) is only to be filled out by Independently Reporting Charter Schools to report the projected NEW OR VACATED positions the school plans to fill in 2026-27. A vacated position occurs if a teacher is expected to retire, resign, transfer or begin a leave of absence.

You must complete this portion of the form with the number of FTE (Full Time Equivalents) such as 1.0 for one full time staff member; .75, or .50 or .25 for part time staff.