2009 Issues:
~ December
~ October-November
~ September-October
~ August-September

Notice of Public Meetings                                                      

State Board of Education Monthly Meeting
February 10-11, 2010
9:00 am
Colorado Department of Education, 201 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Final agenda will be posted here one week prior to the meeting.

Latest News                                                                              
December 10, 2009
State Board Of Education Adopts New Content Standards Unanimously; Spells Out New Expectations For Student Learning

Following a two-year statewide conversation, the Colorado State Board of Education has formally adopted new standards that detail the broad themes, ideas and concepts that the state expects students to learn, experience and demonstrate for postsecondary success.

The new standards replace those adopted in 1994 when the state first shifted to a common statewide understanding of what schools are expected to teach.

"This is a substantial improvement over Colorado’s 15-year-old standards," said State Board of Education Chairman Bob Schaffer. "The board applauds the efforts of the many individuals who have spent countless hours carefully crafting the language and doggedly pursuing this finished product. These are fewer, clearer and higher."

The state board adopted standards in 14 areas including civics; dance; economics; geography; comprehensive health and physical education; history; math; music; reading, writing and communicating; science; drama and theatre arts; visual art and world languages and English language development.

The standards were adopted unanimously in a spirit of celebration with applause as each was forwarded and approved.

Read more here.
___________________________________________________________________________________

November 25, 2009
The Race is On

  Colorado is in the final stages of preparing the state's application for
  a share of $4 billion in federal Race to the Top competitive grants. In 
  order to secure any of these funds, winning states must demonstrate
  that they can meet the requirements in four education reform
  "assurance" areas: standards and assessments, effective teachers
  and school leaders, longitudinal data systems and turning around
  struggling schools.
 
Commissioner of Education Dwight Jones and Colorado Lt. Governor Barbara O'Brien were recently
interviewed by Channel 9's Adam Schrager about the state's progress and plans for reforming our education system and the state's potential for winning significant Race to the Top funds.

Watch the interview here.

Read more about Race to the Top here.
__________________________________________________________________________________

October 26, 2009
News Release
Colorado Board Member Jane Goff Chosen As Director Of National Association

Jane Goff, a longtime educator and member of the Colorado State Board of Education, was elected to the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Board of Directors. Goff will begin her two-year term as a director from NASBE’s Western region in January 2010. 
 
“Jane Goff’s long experience as a public school teacher, administrator, and union leader will serve her greatly as NASBE helps chart the course for state boards on education policy issues nationwide. The board will likewise be enriched by her perspective,” said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. “She and the rest of our board provide their fellow policymakers from across the country the support and diversity of opinion so critical to finding solutions to the educational needs of American students in the 21st century.” 
 
"I look forward to representing our dynamic Western region and working with state boards nationwide on NASBE's forward thinking agenda," said Goff. 
___________________________________________________________________________________

October 14, 2009
Assessment Revision Work Begins
The Colorado Department of Education has begun work to develop a new state assessment system that will be implemented during the 2011-2012 school year. This new system will reflect the expectations of the updated state content standards, and the requirements of CAP4K (Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids), which calls for both school readiness and postsecondary and workforce readiness assessments. 
 
A stakeholder advisory group has recently been assembled to help frame the issues of the current state assessment system, recommend improvements and define the work of potential subcommittee groups. The next stakeholders meeting is Friday, December 11, 8:30-4:30 in Denver.
 
More information regarding the assessment revision, the list of Assessment Stakeholder Committee members and a timeline for the work can be found here.
________________________________________________________________________

October 8, 2009
School Finance – If only wishing made it so
The legislative Commission on Long-term Fiscal Stability is trying to find ways to better ensure the long-term stability of state finances, which have been severely victimized by a combination of the recession and Colorado’s conflicting constitutional provisions. The commission asked CDE to develop an estimate of what an “ideal” education system would cost. The answer? Nearly...More

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
More at News and Views: 

• Colorado's NAEP Mathematics Scores
• Common Core Standards
• Innovation Schools
• Adopted Description: School Readiness
• Adopted Description: Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness