Developing Colorado’s Endorsed Diploma Criteria
Developing Colorado’s Endorsed Diploma Criteria
Background:
Pursuant to C.R.S. 22-7-1009 and 22-7-1017 (2), the next step of
implementing Colorado’s Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K) calls for the
State Board of Education (SBE) and the Colorado Commission on Higher
Education (CCHE) to jointly adopt high school diploma endorsement
criteria that local school districts may choose to use indicating a
student’s level of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR). A PWR
Endorsed Diploma identifies student excellence over and above a standard
high school diploma. The endorsement rewards high school graduates for
excellence by guaranteeing that the student meets minimum academic
qualifications for admission to all open, modified open, or moderately
selective public institutions of higher education in Colorado, as well
as priority consideration for admission into Colorado’s selective and
highly selective institutions.
The Colorado PWR Endorsed Diploma signifies a student has thoughtfully
planned for post-high school life and is academically prepared for
credit-bearing 100-level postsecondary coursework without the need for
remediation. It also means the student possesses the abilities and
skills demanded in a rapidly changing, 21st century workplace or
postsecondary education environment (i.e., critical thinking and
problem solving, information literacy, collaboration, self direction,
and invention skills).
Process and Timelines:
The PWR Endorsed Diploma criteria have
been developed by a statewide task force of members representing
parents, high school leaders and postsecondary administrators. The task
force convened in a series of five meetings beginning in late August
2011 and concluding in October 2011. Subsequently, all twenty three
Colorado institutions of higher education approved the criteria by June
of 2012.
The endorsed diploma criteria will be piloted in several Colorado high
schools over the next few years in partnership with the Department of
Higher Education. Once refined through the pilot, the criteria will be
brought to the SBE and CCHE for joint adoption. Statewide implementation
is planned for the fall of 2015. The PWR Endorsed Diploma is not a
statewide requirement, local districts may elect to implement the PWR
Endorsed Diploma in their high schools if they so choose.
Criteria for the Colorado PWR Endorsed Diploma
The PWR Endorsed Diploma criteria include four steps a student must satisfy:
- Step 1 – Student is college ready in math and English language arts
- Step 2 – Student completes ICAP
- Step 3 – Student demonstrates 21st century skills
- Step 4 – Student demonstrates mastery of academic content in three content areas
For More Information
Please send questions or requests for more information to: Jo O'Brien or Emmy Glancy.