The Colorado Department of Education

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Fact Sheets

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These short documents provide a high level understanding on many hot topics around Colorado’s education system. You may download the PDFs, save them to your computer or print them off and share with colleagues.
 

Education Improvement Efforts

  • Colorado’s Education Improvement Efforts “101” (PDF)

    Colorado has a comprehensive education improvement agenda which over the past few years has been encoded into state law. This fact sheet provides an overview, implementation progress and next steps for Colorado's Achievement Plan for Kids (Senate Bill 08-212), the Education Accountability Act (Senate Bill 09-163) and the Great Teachers and Leaders Act (Senate Bill 10-191).
     

Educator Effectiveness

  • What is Senate Bill 10-191? (PDF)

    This fact sheet provides a high level overview of the bill that was passed in 2010 with the idea that every child in every community deserves excellent classroom teachers and building leaders who are supported in their professional growth. This provides great foundational information on educator effectiveness and Senate Bill 10-191.
  • What is the Colorado State Model Evaluation System? (PDF)

    Senate Bill 10-191 is improving the way Colorado principals and teachers are evaluated and supported in their professional growth. To support school districts in the implementing the new law, CDE is developing a model evaluation system that districts may choose to use for their teacher and/or principal evaluations. This fact sheet provides an overview on the model system and the Quality Standards that educators will be evaluated on.
  • Training Requirements for the Colorado State Model Evaluation System (PDF)

    Any person who conducts an evaluation of school licensed personnel must hold an administrator's license or go through a state approved training program. This fact sheet outlines the available evaluator training programs and the training requirements for districts using the new Colorado State Model Evaluation System.
  • Overview of Evaluation Requirements and Timeline for Specialized Service Professionals (PDF)

    To ensure every child in Colorado has access to great educators who are supported in their professional growth; new evaluation requirements under Senate Bill 10-191 are intended to provide meaningful, annual evaluations for all licensed personnel including principals, teachers and other education professionals who are licensed by the state. This fact sheet explains the work that is being done to provide evaluation tools for licensed personnel that don't fall under the teacher or principal category.
  • Feedback and Survey Data from the 2011-12 Principal Colorado State Model Evaluation System Pilot   (PDF)
     

Teaching and Learning

  • Introduction to the Colorado Academic Standards (PDF)

    The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) are the expectations of what students need to know and be able to do at the end of each grade. They also stand as the values and content organizers of what Colorado sees as the future skills and essential knowledge for our next generation to be more successful. Read this fact sheet for an introduction to the CAS.
  • Race to the Top- Early Challenge Fund (PDF)

    Students need a high-quality preschool through 12th grade (P-12) education that prepares them to succeed in college and the workforce. Kindergarten readiness is not only a major milestone in a child’s path to success but it is also one of Colorado’s top education priorities. Read more about the Race To the Top Early Learning Challenge Fund and what resources and supports it will provide for districts.
  • School Readiness – Building a Foundation for Success (PDF)

    Senate Bill 08-212, Colorado’s Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K), passed in 2008 with the goal of aligning Colorado’s preschool through postsecondary education system. The act included provisions related to school readiness for both the State Board of Education and local education providers. Read more about school readiness and get answers to your frequently asked questions.
     

Assessment

  • Assessment Overview (PDF)

    Meaningful, timely and precise measures of student learning – assessments - provide critical data and feedback to determine whether educational goals are being met. Colorado assessments are changing in order to accurately assess student mastery relative to the Colorado Academic Standards. Learn more in this fact sheet.
  • Overview of the Content Collaboratives (PDF)

    The Colorado Content Collaboratives are a group of P-12 educators from around the state coming together to identify and create high-quality assessments, which are aligned to the new Colorado Academic Standards and may be used in the context of educator evaluations. This fact sheet provides an overview on their work and timeline.
  • Assessment Update Jan. 2013 (PDF)
     

Accountability

  • Overview of Colorado’s Accountability System (PDF)

    The Education Accountability Act of 2009 (Senate Bill 09-163) holds the state, districts, and individual public schools accountable for performance on the same set of indicators and related measures. This fact sheet provides an overview on the district and school performance frameworks, and the Unified Improvement Planning process.
  • Overview of the 2013-14 ESEA Consolidated Application (PDF)

    Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funds are intended to assist districts achieve accelerated growth in those students most at-risk of not meeting academic standards. The improved consolidated application provides local education associations (LEAs) with an enhanced tool designed to identify and coordinate grant strategies leading to a greater impact on student achievement.
     

Educator Licensure

Innovation and Choice

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For general assistance: CDE_Communications_Office@cde.state.co.us