Growth in Colorado

Quick Links

View school and district Growth Summary Reports here.
2018 Annotated Growth Summary Report
2018 Performance Indicator Summary
To explore your school or district’s academic growth this past year, see the Performance Snapshot.

For the past decade, Colorado has been a national leader in how to measure a student's academic growth from year to year. About ten years ago, the state created the Colorado Growth Model to look specifically at how individual students progress from year to year based on the state standards. Growth provides another dimension of performance beyond just achievement on tests by describing the relative growth of individual students from year to year. The Colorado Growth Model provides information for many different student populations and identifies areas of strength and areas that may need more support. It also supplies necessary growth data for the annual school and district accountability ratings.

What metrics are included in the growth indicator on the performance frameworks?

The academic growth indicator reflects median growth percentiles (MGPs) in English Language Arts and Math on state assessments, and MGPs in English Language Proficiency (ELP) for English Language Learners.

On this indicator, schools and districts earn one of four ratings (Exceeds Expectations, Meets Expectations, Approaching Expectations, or Does Not Meet Expectations) based on the percent of points earned on the above metrics.

How does the growth performance indicator impact overall ratings on the performance frameworks?

For state accountability purposes, growth is the most heavily weighted of three performance indicators used for determining accreditation and school plan type ratings. For elementary schools and middle schools, growth results account for 60% of their final ratings. For high schools and districts, 40% of their final ratings are based on growth.

Resources

Beginner

Growth Fact Sheet (PDF) - August 2018
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide a parent friendly overview of how Colorado Growth model results are calculated and what they mean.
Colorado Growth Model Webinar (Recording)- August 16, 2018
The purpose of this webinar was to provide a brief conceptual overview of the Colorado Growth Model, including student growth percentiles, median growth percentiles, and an overview of changes in reports and measures associated with the 2018 release.
Colorado Growth Model Webinar (Slide Deck)- August 16, 2018
The purpose of this webinar was to provide a brief conceptual overview of the Colorado Growth Model, including student growth percentiles, median growth percentiles, and an overview of changes in reports and measures associated with the 2018 release.
Understanding the 2018 CMAS Growth and Achievement Report (PDF) - October 2018
This individual student growth report cover page explains the content of the reports to parents and guardians.
Entender el Informe de Desarrollo y Rendimiento CMAS de 2018 (PDF) - October 2018
This Spanish translated version of the individual student growth report cover page explains the content of the reports to parents and guardians.

How to Understand Individual Student Growth & Achievement Reports (PDF) - October 2018
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide an annotated version of the annually produced individual student growth reports to improve use and understanding by stakeholders.

Intermediate

Top Ten Myths about Growth & Accountability (PDF) - April 11, 2019
The purpose of this fact sheet is to address the most common misunderstandings that CDE staff have encountered from education stakeholders in regards to the Colorado Growth Model and the state educational accountability system.
UIP Target Setting with Colorado Growth Model Data (PDF) - May 15, 2019
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide a brief orientation concerning how Colorado Growth Model data may be used to support target setting within an improvement planning process.
WIDA ACCESS On-Track Growth to Standard: Fact Sheet (PDF) - June 2018
The purpose of this resource is to provide background information concerning how WIDA ACCESS On-Track growth to standard results are calculated and included within the 2018 performance framework reports.

Growth Data: It Matters and It's Complicated, by the Data Quality Campaign (webpage) - 2019
This is an external report that summarizes how growth data is considered in accountability systems across the nation.
2018 Growth Detail File (PDF) - 2018
This file explains the fields in the annually produced growth data files.
2018 Annotated Growth Summary Report (PDF) - 2018
This documents adds call-out comment boxes to a sample growth summary report explaining each component.

Expert

Colorado Growth Model (PDF) - January 3, 2019
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide a brief technical orientation to the Colorado Growth Model (CGM). This includes background information related to model development, an overview of its analytic methodology, and the current CDE applications of the model.

Helpful Links

To view school and district growth data summary results, visit the Colorado Growth Model Reports page.
To learn about the Technical Advisory Panel for Longitudinal Growth, visit the TAP page.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact Dan Jorgensen, PhD at: jorgensen_d@cde.state.co.us.

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