Unified Improvement Planning Resources

Overview

2023-24 UIP Handbook (PDF) - April 2023

This document gives a comprehensive overview of the UIP and guidance for completing it. 

Streamlined UIP Workbook (PDF) or (DOC) - April 2025

This resource outlines a robust improvement planning process that school leaders can use or adapt to create their improvement plans. 

UIP Element Category Dropdown Guidance (PDF) or (DOC) - April 2025

This document provides an explanation of each category for Student Performance Priorities, Root Causes, and Major Improvement Strategies and supports users with selecting the appropriate category via the new dropdowns in the UIP template.

Statute and Policy Guidance References for UIP (PDF) - October 2020

UIP Submission Deadlines and Biennial Flexibility Spreadsheet (Excel) - April 2025

This document lists the next UIP submission deadline for every school and district as well as biennial submission eligibility for the 2024-25 school year.

Biennial Flexibility for the UIP (PDF) - August 2021

Provides guidance on the eligibility criteria for the submission of the UIP on a biennial basis.

Guidance for Combined Plans (PDF) - April 2025

This resource outlines requirements and instructions for submitting combined improvement plans for districts serving fewer than 1200 students.

January Submission Guidance (PDF) - August 2024

This resource provides guidance on January UIP submission eligibility and directions for District Admins to denote if a school/district will be submitting in January in the UIP Online System. 

UIP Guidance for New Schools (PDF)  - April 2025

The intent of this guidance is to help new schools "plan forward" for their improvement efforts - even with limited data.

Data Analysis for Small Student Populations (PDF) - April 2025

This guidance focuses on how to include analysis of data with small populations of students in the UIP. This resource is appropriate for all users that need to report on small student groups, either due to size of the school/district or disaggregated data analysis. 

The Quality Criteria have been created to offer guidance on creating improvement plans that incorporate state and federal accountability requirements. This document describes the responses that “Meet Expectations” for these quality criteria at the school or district level.

Streamlined UIP Template District and School Quality Criteria - April 2025 - PDF or Word

Streamlined UIP Template School Quality Criteria Rubric - ESSA Identification​ - COMING SOON FOR 2025-26

CDE Reviews & Feedback for UIPs (PDF) - September 2024

In the 2024-25 year, sites that will have their UIPs reviewed by CDE can choose from three different formats for this review and feedback. This document outlines these options in greater detail and provides instructions for how to select the review type that best fits the needs of a given site. 

Accountability Clock: Year 4 Requirements (PDF) - September 2020

This document provides guidance and instructions for schools and districts in year four of the accountability clock.

Parent Notification and Public Hearing Requirements Fact Sheet (PDF) - July 2024

Schools with Priority Improvement or Turnaround plan types are required to notify parents of their identification. This document walks through the requirements for notifying and engaging stakeholders (for schools with these plan types).

Early Learning Needs Assessment - Website link

This website provides resources for conducting an early learning needs assessment as a part of the UIP process, as well as guidance for meeting expectations for K-3 serving schools with Priority Improvement/Turnaround plans and their districts.

2024 State Accountability, Measures & Improvement Planning (PowerPoint) and  Orientation Resource (PDF) - August 2024

           Tool for district staff to help Boards of Education better understand state accountability and related data within the context of their local policies, priorities, and community context.

Colorado Educational Accountability: An Overview for Boards of Education (PDF) - November 2023

This resource provides a basic resource that explains Colorado educational accountability, at a conceptual level, while providing additional resources to facilitate a deeper dive into areas of interest by Board members.

Unified Improvement Plans: The Role of the School Board in Plan Development & Adoption (PDF) - November 2023

This resource attempts to address the role of the School Board relative to the development and approval of the Unified Improvement Plan.

For More Information

Please contact uiphelp@cde.state.co.us