The Unit of Academic Standards leads the state in the research and management of Colorado’s student educational expectations. This unit reviews the states and nations which most effectively define mastery and help students and teachers achieve clearer results in order to guide Colorado schools to greater outcomes. State academic standards are the expectations of what students need to know and be able to do. 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. State standards are the basis of the annual state assessment.
Standards are not the same as lesson plans or curriculum. They are the content understandings and abilities that lead a student to success beyond school.
This office is responsible for on-going public conversations and information sessions conducted with schools, higher education, school boards, policy makers, and the media about these learning principles.
The content areas include Mathematics, Science, Reading and Writing, History, Geography, Economics, Civics, Music, Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance, Physical Education, and World Languages. In addition, the state had developed standards for Expanded Benchmarks and English Language Learners.
Currently, Colorado is transitioning from traditional Kindergarten through twelfth grade standards to an inclusion of early school readiness and postsecondary competencies. Historically, these standards have been organized by grade spans but are evolving to more articulated and specific descriptions. Additionally, state standards will reflect workforce readiness and 21st century skills such as problem-solving, information literacy and innovation. The ability to take responsibility for additional learning, self direction and interaction with others to learn new information quickly and more naturally is the new emerging direction of our work.
The Unit of Academic Standard’s website outlines the resources, schedule and research of its latest revision venture.