News Release - The State Board of Education approves targets for 2024 frameworks

DENVER -- During its regular monthly meeting, the State Board of Education voted to keep the 2024 targets in school and district frameworks consistent with 2019 and 2023 targets. The targets are the cut scores that differentiate ratings in the frameworks, which every year provide schools and districts with a performance rating based on achievement and growth on state assessments, along with other postsecondary and workforce readiness measures.

The board also reintroduced achievement on the CMAS science assessment into the frameworks. This science assessment has not been used for accountability purposes since 2019 because it was updated to align with changes in the Colorado Academic Standards in Science approved in 2018 and implemented in the 2021-22 school year.

In addition, while the board delayed including the new on track growth measure in the frameworks, it directed the department to publicly report on-track growth data when available. This action aligns with recommendations from the Technical Advisory Panel. The delay also acknowledges legislatively required task forces currently developing recommendations on the state accountability system.

The board also directed the department to continue studying the addition of the higher bar measures for postsecondary workforce readiness in English language arts, math and other content courses in response to the Technical Advisory Panel's concerns about data quality.

Review of Colorado Academic Standards for Computer Science

The State Board of Education reviewed recommended revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards for Computer Science from a committee made up of educators, business leaders, representatives from higher education and students. The committee began reviewing the standards in September.

In addition to language updates and clarifications, the committee recommended the addition of artificial intelligence and cyber security to the high school standards based on information from the independent benchmarking reports presented at the August 2023 meeting.

A period to collect public feedback on the recommendations through an online form will be open from Monday, Nov. 13, to Friday, Jan. 5. The state board will review the public feedback in February and will consider the final recommendations in April before voting on adopting possible amendments in June.

Pueblo School District directed to continue a partial management contract for Risley

Following an accountability hearing on the performance of Risley International Academy of Innovation in the Pueblo School District, the state board directed the district to continue to contract with Relay for partial management of the school. The state board directed the district to delegate to Relay the authority needed to manage school-level professional development and implementation of an instructional program, including curriculum and assessment.

Adams 14 School District presents update

Adams 14 School District presented an update on implementation of its board-directed improvement plan. The district showed improvements in the 2023 preliminary frameworks, moving up one rating from Turnaround to Priority Improvement. A full accountability rehearing will be held on Adams 14 this spring when the board will consider a new order for the district. Prior to that hearing, the State Review Panel will visit Adams 14, and the state board will seek public comment to inform a new board order.

In other actions, the board:

• Approved good cause extensions for 11 districts with educators who were unable to complete training in evidence based reading instruction by the Aug. 1, 2023, deadline. All 11 districts met the parameters established by the board at the August 2022 meeting.
• Discussed proposed changes to the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act of 1994, 1 CCR 301-39 that are planned to be noticed at the December meeting.
• Approved changes to the rules for the Adult Education and Literacy Act Grant Program to align the rules with legislation passed in 2023. Senate Bill 23-007 made several changes to the grant program, including adding digital literacy to the basic education offered and clarifying that eligible adults may earn a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
• Discussed proposed priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
• Approved a technical change to the Rules of the Administration of the Healthy Meals for All Program.
• Approved updates to the Exceptional Children's Educational Act to allow charter schools to calculate tuition rates for special education services based on the per child rate paid to them by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
• Denied a charter appeal by Alexandria School of Innovation and John Dewey Institute, ruling the applicant had not demonstrated that the Douglas County School District Board of Education's actions to deny the applications were contrary to the best interests of the students, school district or community.

​###