Overview of the Colorado Academic Standards Crosswalk Documents
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is working with stakeholders from across the state to design a comprehensive approach to supporting Colorado in the transition to the revised Colorado Academic Standards (2009). This process includes four broad phases: awareness, transition, implementation, and transformation. Awareness involves communication about the revised standards; transition involves making curriculum changes based on the revised standards; implementation involves adjusting instructional practices to the revised standards; and transformation involves innovation in teaching and learning based on the revised standards.
In partnership with educational leaders from across the state, CDE introduces the first support tool for transitioning to the revised standards: standards crosswalk documents. These documents are designed as working tools to compare the previous Model Content Standards to the revised Colorado Academic Standards. Content experts from the field advised the department on how best to create meaningful comparison documents that would assist educators in the transition to the revised Academic Standards. The design of and analysis within the crosswalks was accomplished through a partnership with educators from across Colorado. This work could not have been completed without our partners in the field.
Each content area used an appropriate referent for the crosswalk based on content specific factors, such as the degree of change between the documents, the existence of other supporting materials, or the existence of assessment frameworks. While the referents used differed across content areas, the intent of these documents is the same. The crosswalks are meant to be working tools to support the initial process of curriculum alignment.
Purpose of the Crosswalk Documents
The purpose of these documents is to allow for an “at a glance” comparison of content between the previous and revised Colorado standards. There are many potential uses for these documents. For example, districts may use the crosswalks to assist in curriculum alignment and to assist in planning for transitioning to the revised standards. While there are many uses, it’s important to keep in mind what the crosswalk can do and cannot do.
To download the complete crosswalk overview and content by content explanation, click here.
Content specific crosswalk information and working documents can be located at the links provided below.
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education
Mathematics (Updated December 2010)
Reading, Writing and Communicating (Updated December 2010)
Science
Social Studies
World Languages
English Language Proficiency
For Standards Web site technical assistance, please e-mail Anna Huffman at Huffman_a@cde.state.co.us