News Release - State Board of Education approves management plan for Pueblo’s Central High School

Jan. 9, 2020

State Board of Education approves management plan for Pueblo’s Central High School

Hope Online Elementary directed to return in February with additional plans

DENVER - The State Board of Education at its monthly meeting approved Pueblo City 60 School District’s plan to partner with Relay Graduate School of Education and the University of Virginia’s Partnership for Leaders in Education to partially manage Central High School.

The board is required by Colorado’s accountability law to direct a plan to bring about dramatic improvements at Central High School because the school has received a Priority Improvement rating for five consecutive years. The management plan proposed by the district was also recommended by the State Review Panel. 

HOPE Online directed to provide additional information in February

The board directed HOPE Online Learning Academy Elementary School to return and provide information at the February state board meeting on how the organization plans to overcome its $600,000 deficit and demonstrate financial solvency. In addition, the board required the multi-district online charter school to create a plan to assume full operational control over its learning centers and partner with successful charter schools serving similar students. 

The school has received a Priority Improvement or Turnaround rating - the two lowest ratings - in the accountability system for nine consecutive years. In 2017, the state board directed the school to reconstitute its governing board and hire a management partner to help raise student achievement at the elementary and middle schools. The elementary school continued to receive Priority Improvement ratings from 2017 to 2019, requiring HOPE to come back before the board to determine if additional action is needed. 

Legislative priorities

The board approved its legislative priorities for the 2020 session, which includes supporting policies that encourage student success, protect student data, promote flexibility for schools and districts, and seek equitable school finance. The board re-emphasized its commitment to working with the governor, state legislators, school districts and all stakeholders to support policy that sets up students for success.

2019 Blue Ribbon Schools recognized

Five Colorado schools earned the 2019 National Blue Ribbon Award, a recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for schools with high achievement or that have effectively closed achievement gaps among their students. Principals from each of the following schools were honored:

• Bradley International School, Denver Public Schools
• DSST Byers Middle School, Denver Public Schools
• Lois Lenski Elementary School, Littleton Public Schools
• Summit Middle Charter School, Boulder Valley School District
• Slavens K-8 School, Denver Public Schools

Colorado’s Cut Scores for the SAT

Department staff presented background information to help board members make a decision later this year to set cut scores for student performance on Colorado’s SAT college entrance exam. The exam is used for college admission as well as to measure the mastery of grade level expectations of Colorado’s 11th graders.

The SAT cut scores will let students, parents and teachers know if students are mastering the expectations for college and career readiness laid out in the Colorado Academic Standards.The board will hear recommendations and is expected to make a decision on the cut scores in the next few months.

In other actions, the board:

• Approved the Notice of Rulemaking for the Rules for the English Language Proficiency Act (ELPA). ELPA provides support to school districts for required English language learner development programs. Suggested changes to the rules are technical. A rulemaking hearing is anticipated for February.
• Approved amended Rules for the Administration of the School Health Professional Grant (SHPG) program. Updates to the rules expand allowable use of funds and the definition of who qualifies as a school health professional. Additional language was added around parents’ ability to opt-out students. 
• Considered additional changes to the Colorado READ Act. CDE answered questions raised by the board during the notice of rulemaking in November 2019. A rulemaking hearing is scheduled for February.
• Certified $385,802,408 in state share monthly entitlements to local school districts for December 2019.