Standards Review
Introduction
Colorado has had state model content standards in thirteen disciplines for fourteen years. They have been the broad articulation of this state’s topical recognition of ideas, themes, facts, and agendas which were of value more than a decade ago. In 2007, the State Board of Education recommended a comprehensive revision of these standards for some elemental changes in the direction of these documents. In 2008, the state’s legislature affirmed and further articulated the nature of these changes. Additionally, Senate Bill 212 expanded the vision of public education outcomes with the inclusion of higher education and early childhood education goals into one seamless standards policy.
The timeline for these 13 content areas to be changed is ambitious. State content standards are to be revised and adopted by December 2009. Unlike the time it took to create content’s standards, this one year deadline was designed with select design change features in mind and not to re-invent the nature of disciplines of the content themselves.
Info Video: Thomas Jefferson High School Students present the revision process
The four important new design features…
The vision expects students to have both opportunity for college entrance and the capacity of new skill sets in all courses of life necessary for success in a “solutions-based culture”.
The important differences in this version of state standards will include four changes; 1) adding 21st century skills, 2) ensuring fewer, clearer and higher standards, 3) addition of early childhood, postsecondary and workforce readiness expectations, and 4) mastering concepts and skills….not just facts.
Interview: Bev Tarpley, Assistant Superintendent for Student Achievement; Cheyenne Mountain School District 12
The revision process
The beginning of the entire process started with research and gap analysis of benchmarked states and nations which have the best standards. Analysis about the existing strengths and weaknesses simultaneously occurred with the current Colorado standards. Additionally, a study was commissioned which examined the formats and grade span structure of other states’ standards.
A stakeholder advisory group was assembled to help define terms, frame the issues, determine grade by grade articulation and select subcommittee members from a pool of untitled applicants.
Applicants were solicited from across the state to apply the subject-specific education (early, k-12, and higher education) and business sector expertise. Seven hundred and eighty six people applied to fill 255 unpaid roles. Selection was made by Colorado stakeholders in a name blind process using the merits of both the application and resumes.
Content subcommittees were formed in three phases - Phase I: Mathematics, Science, Reading and Writing, and Music; Phase II: History, Civics, Geography and Economics; Phase III: Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance, Health and Physical Education, and World Language. Each take the research, gap analyses, reports on best benchmarked states and nations, the 21st century skills and a draft of the postsecondary and workforce readiness description into consideration in order to revise the content standards of Colorado.
Opportunity for public feedback
Advisory committees are being identified in P-3, Higher Education, Business, and Education Associations in order to check the rigor and relevance to their constituencies.
Regional tours after each Phase revision will launch a large campaign for feedback, trends, and improvements. The Colorado Department of Education content specialists will look at common and repeated themes for consideration. The first feedback window will be in April, the second in August and the third tour and electronic outreach will be in September.
The adoption in June between the Colorado Council of Higher Education and Colorado State Board of Education of a postsecondary and workforce readiness description may modify the standards drafts.
Throughout the process, national experts will give advice and provide continuity editing, structural technique and research feedback on the drafts and public recommendations.
Official public hearings will be in November before the State Board of Education when the final recommendations are presented.
The State Board of Education decides what standards are adopted in December, 2009.
Interview: Roger Sampson, Chairman, Education Commission of the States
Interview: Jo O'Brien, Assistant Commissioner; Colorado Department of Education