Implementation Strategies for 2021-2022

CDE is collecting strategies for Graduation Guidelines for 21-22. THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED OFTEN!  Please send your questions and practices to Robin Russel, or call her at 720.576.2902.

Guidance, Resources, and Promising Practices

Each of the measures from the Graduation Guidelines Menu of Options has a separate webpage with guidance and promising practices. Questions from the field and Town Hall discussions have been incorporated into each of the pages, along with recent practices.

ACCUPLACER

ACT

ACT WorkKeys

Advanced Placement (AP)

ASVAB

Concurrent Enrollment

District Capstone

Industry Certificate

International Baccalaureate (IB)

SAT

Performance Assessment

 

Students with IEPs

Access information and resources from the Capstone Workshop for Students with IEPs (Oct 2021) including an in-depth conversation about developing a Capstone process that includes all students, and a focus on how to include students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

• Recording & Videos
• Slides, Resources & Practices, including:
  • Jeffco Schools: Graduation Capstone Essentials
  • Jeffco Schools: IEP Grad Capstone Considerations (Best Practices)

    See also the webpage for Capstone strategies to consider other practices:

• Denver Public Schools, ACE Connect Career Capstone
• Poudre Schools:  Graduation Requirements for Special Populations: Capstone Project

 

English Learners 

In a recent update to the Menu of Options (October 2021), “English” and “Math” were more clearly defined as, “Reading, Writing, and Communicating” and “Mathematics."  According to the Graduation Guidelines Menu of Options, districts and LEPs have" the authority to provide accommodations to Graduation Guidelines for English learners."  Because these accommodations are locally determined, districts and LEPs have chosen to outline specific accommodations (or support) for Graduation Guidelines in local board policy, and/or in students’ ICAPs, IEPs, and other formal plans.  Some of the examples for supporting Multilingual Learners in meeting Graduation Guidelines competencies include:

• ACT WorKeys in Spanish
• Advanced Placement assessment scores from AP Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish
• Concurrent Enrollment passing scores for world languages
• Capstone portfolios or presentations in native languages
  • Jeffco Schools - ELL Grad Capstone Considerations and Best Practices
  • Roaring Fork Schools: Teacher Resources
• Seal of Biliteracy

The guidelines for accommodating English Learners on state assessments are determined by federal rules under the U.S. Department of Education.

 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning

CTE pathways have incorporated Work-Based Learning activities and projects into their curricula. Help students link their CTE projects and portfolios with the district's capstone process.  Connect with the Colorado Workforce Development Council to explore grant opportunities and Work-Based Learning opportunities, and to review data from the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, released on Dec 17, 2021.

Concurrent Enrollment courses linked with CTE may also count for Graduation Guidelines competencies.  Refer to your district graduation requirements policies

• If districts define CTE Concurrent Enrollment courses for mastery, then college level CTE program completion can count for mastery, including, for example, Fire Science, Welding, Diesel, and Culinary programs

5th Year Seniors

In order to graduate, 5th year seniors from the Anticipated Year of Graduation (AYG) 2021 must demonstrate readiness according to the Menu of Options.  Jeffco Schools created a version of their capstone for 5th year students:

• Jeffco Schools: Interim Capstone for 5th Years