The Colorado Department of Education

Offices | Staff Contacts | Colorado.gov

Comparison Tools

The three tools in this section will help districts make comparisons and find gaps between previous and new standards, and curriculum. Analyzing gaps will help districts review and revise existing standards, and begin to redesign curriculum.

Comparing Conceptual Differences

Topics included in this section:

  • An overview of the major conceptual differences between the previous and new standards

Steps:

  • View these presentations about the headline, or important changes in each content area:

The arts (PowerPoint) (PDF)
Comprehensive health and physical education (PowerPoint) (PDF)
English language proficiency (PowerPoint) (PDF)
Mathematics (Updated December 2010) (PowerPoint) (PDF)
Reading, writing and communicating (Updated December 2010) (PowerPoint) (PDF)
Science (PowerPoint) (PDF)
Social studies (PowerPoint) (PDF)
World languages (PowerPoint) (PDF)
All headlines (PowerPoint) (PDF)

  • Utilize the Transition planning tool to compare local standards and curriculum to the Colorado Academic and English Language Proficiency Standards.

Comparing Content

Topics included in this section:

  • Crosswalk documents that compare content between the previous and new standards

Steps:

  • Read the crosswalk introduction resource to learn what crosswalk documents can and cannot do.

  • Review the content area crosswalk pages and accompanying audio and visual tutorial:

The arts (includes Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Music, and Visual Art)
Comprehensive health and physical education
Mathematics (Updated December 2010)
Reading, writing and communicating (Updated December 2010)
Science
Social studies
World languages
English language proficiency

Bridging the Gaps

Topics included in this section:

  • An analysis between the previous and new standards of where content has shifted grade levels, what content is no longer included, and what content needs to be added

Steps:

  1. Use the grade level shift plan resource to summarize where content has moved from one grade level to another.

  2. Use the gap analysis template to develop a time-phased plan for implementation. The template includes a completed sample of fourth-grade mathematics.