"Viewpoint" is a series of articles written by leaders in charter school authorizing and the education reform movement. The series is meant to foster thoughtful discussion and idea exchange on current topics and emerging trends in the sector. This paper examines the various policy and implementation levers available to inject affirmative…

The rationale for taking bold action on the nation's persistently failing schools can be summed up in one dramatic and disturbing statistic: half of the young Americans who drop out of high school attend just 12 percent of the nation's schools. Ending the cycle of failure at schools is a daunting challenge and a surprisingly controversial one.…

The Colorado Model Content Standards for Science specify what all students should know and be able to do in science as a result of their school studies. Specific expectations are given for students completing grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Five standards outline the essential level of science knowledge and skills needed by Colorado citizens to…

This report summarizes the accomplishments of local education grants that have balanced the need for high standards, accountability, parent involvement, and flexibility. The document examines results from two funding opportunities supported by the Goals 2000 Educate America Act: the Consortia Addressing Statewide Systemic Issues (CASSI) and Local…

This booklet presents three model content standards for physical education in the state of Colorado, noting that there must be developmentally appropriate physical education programs for all students, from the physically gifted to the physically challenged. Physical education provides opportunities for students to participate in activities that…

This Colorado state standards guide lists six model content standards for history education in Colorado elementary schools. Standards cited in the guide are: (1) students understand the chronological organization of history and know how to organize events and people into major eras to identify and explain historical relationships; (2) students…

These Colorado state music content standards are based on the idea that music education benefits students by developing them fully and gradually building music literacy while cultivating intuition, reasoning, imagination, and dexterity into unique forms of expression and communication. The guide suggests that standards provide a substantive…

This guide lists six model content standards for geography education in Colorado elementary schools. Standards cited in the guide are: (1) students know how to use and construct maps, globes, and other geographic tools to locate and derive information about people, places, and environments; (2) students know the physical and human characteristics…

The "Pathways to Literacy" program was designed by teachers for teachers as a professional development activity to integrate standards with a reading and writing curriculum. It is intended as a how-to guide to help teachers learn to do a better job of implementing standards in their classrooms, or for related purposes such as improving…

The goal of these Colorado state economics content standards is for students, by the time they graduate from high school, to understand economics well enough to make good judgments about personal economic questions and about economic policy in a complex and changing world. Students need an understanding of basic economic concepts to become…

This booklet defines law-related education as an educational program for teaching non-lawyers about law, the legal system, and the fundamental principles and values on which constitutional democracy is based. The program's approach is characterized by relevant curriculum materials, interactive teaching strategies, and extensive use of the…

This publication is a tool to help educators weave academic content standards, assessments, and school-to-career methods into an integrated and comprehensive educational strategy that prepares all students to meet their future goals. Examples included in the publication were created by Colorado educators to provide a vision of how teachers can…

These Colorado state civics content standards summarize the knowledge and skills that are the basis of responsible citizenship whether it is taught in history, geography, or other social studies courses. The guide points out that civics should be a central concern from kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is through systematic instruction in…

This Colorado state visual arts content standards guide is based on the idea that visual arts education benefits the student because it cultivates the whole person, gradually building many kinds of literacy while developing intuition, reasoning, imagination, and dexterity into unique forms of expression and communication. Students develop an…

In question-and-answer form, this pamphlet describes the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP). The CSAP tests are designed to measure student achievement in relation to the Colorado Model Content Standards. Every student enrolled in the grades tested is expected to take the appropriate CSAP. The CSAP tests are developed collaboratively by…