Accountability for Alternative Education Campuses
The Education Accountability Act of 2009 (SB 09-163) authorizes the Department of Education (Department) to conduct an annual review of the performance of the public schools in the state and to make recommendations to the State Board of Education (State Board) concerning whether the public school shall implement a performance, improvement, priority improvement or turnaround plan. The law also authorizes the Department to conduct an annual review of the performance of Alternative Education Campuses (AECs) that takes into account the unique purposes of the campuses and the unique circumstances of the challenges posed by the students enrolled in the campuses.
Updates
The following presentation was used in an AEC webinar/question & answer session on May 24, 2011:
- Accountability for AECs: Q&A with the Colorado Department of Education (presented May 24, 2011)
The following communication was sent to superintendents, district representatives, and AEC stakeholders in May 2011:
- Alternative Education Campuses: Policy Guidance and Accompanying Documents, 2011-12 (issued May 11, 2011)
Policy Guidance
The following policy guidance describes the methods by which a public school may apply to be designated as an AEC and the methods by which the Department and school districts will evaluate the performance of AECs:
- Policy Guidance on Accountability for Alternative Education Campuses (updated May 11, 2011)
- Unified Improvement Plan Template for Schools - Alternative Education Campuses (DOC) (Version 1.0 posted November 16, 2010.)
- For more information, see http://www.schoolview.org/UnifiedImprovementPlanning.asp.
Application Forms
By July 1, 2011, all schools seeking designation as an Alternative Education Campus (AEC) or renewal as an Alternative Education Campus will need to submit the following form, with their district or authorizer’s approval, indicating that the school meets or continues to meet eligibility criteria:
- Application for Designation and Renewal as an Alternative Education Campus (updated May 11, 2011)
By July 1, 2011, all AECs (both those seeking designation for the first-time and those seeking renewal) will need to submit the following form, with their district or authorizer’s approval, indicating the accountability measures, metrics and cut-points they intend to use:
- Selection of Accountability Measures for Alternative Education Campuses (updated May 31, 2011)
Schools Designated as Alternative Education Campuses
On Aug. 11, 2010, the state board of education voted to approve the following schools as Alternative Education Campuses for 2010-11:
Regulations
On April 13, 2011, the State Board of Education voted to amend the following rules concerning accountability for Alternative Education Campuses:
Research and Development
On April 4, 2011, CDE hosted a meeting for AEC stakeholders to provide updates on the alternative school performance framework for 2010-11. The materials below reflect previous stakeholder agreements and pending decisions to date. At this time, the data and results are discussion drafts and are not intended to be used for official accountability purposes.
- AEC Accountability Updates (PPT)
- Comments and Responses to Feedback Received Post-April 4 (PDF)
- State and AEC Normative Data
- Sorted by school
- Sorted by AEC mission
- Impact of Using AEC Normative Data
- Research Paper on NWEA Norms for AECs (PDF)
Contact Information
- Somoh Supharukchinda, Performance Support Manager, Supharukchinda_S@cde.state.co.us
- Kady Dodds, Senior Policy Associate, Dodds_k@cde.state.co.us