This playbook provides ways in which Governors and teams can blur the lines between high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Governors play a significant role to Raise the Bar for student success by developing an "education-to-workforce system" that focuses on Unlocking Career Success.

Educators employ different methods of teaching and learning to help their students succeed. One such method is personalized learning, which aims to tailor instruction to the needs, talents, and skills of each individual learner. Rapid advances in technology platforms and digital content over the last decade have enabled more widespread use of…

After two decades of major education reforms without seeing major gains for low-income students, state leadership is coming to the conclusion that there is something inherently wrong with America's K-12 system. States have called into question the time-based system built around the Carnegie unit and are now rapidly advancing an alternative. By…

To assist system administrators as they pursue their own teacher leadership initiatives, this profile from Leading Educators and the Aspen Institute details the steps Denver Public Schools (DPS) took to design and implement its Differentiated Roles pilot. Specifically, it examines the initiative's opportunities and challenges within the context of…

The Developmental Strategies for College Readiness and Success Resource Guide was produced by the Education Commission of the States and the Southern Regional Education Board for the "Countdown to 2015: Developmental Strategies to Advance Readiness in the Common Core Era" convening held April 21-23, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The…

This master plan for Colorado academic libraries assesses current strengths and weaknesses of public and private academic libraries in the state and forecasts the role of academic libraries in support of higher education. The plan consists of a series of recommendations divided into six related and overlapping sections: access, collection…

Securing appropriate facilities can be a significant challenge for those intending to open a charter school. Although, like all public schools, charter schools receive per-pupil dollars from the state, they generally receive considerably less. Additionally, because traditional public schools rely on their district to provide their school…

Formula budgeting for college and university facilities maintenance is recommended because: (1) formulas inject objectivity into the budgeting process by using quantified data; (2) formulas tend to improve the equitability of treatment of comparable institutions; (3) formulas are intended to provide adequate but economical budgets; and (4)…

In accordance with a long range plan for libraries in Colorado, a committee was appointed to develop the first standards for basic library service in Colorado public libraries. Libraries and their boards may use this document as a workbook for assessing their library and its services, as well as a document to assist in planning for the library's…

This handbook provides information on Colorado's charter-school program. It explains the process for establishing charter schools and discusses the purpose these schools serve. Information on how to apply for a charter is given and includes the required elements of a charter application, such as goals and objectives, educational program and…

This resource guide provides guidelines for the development of a new model for student services delivery systems in Colorado's community colleges and area vocational schools. Introductory material discusses the role of student services in the 1980's and provides information on the development of the proposed model and guidebook. Following a…

This handbook was designed to support Colorado schools as they make the transition from a traditional school structure to that of a comprehensive schoolwide program. It contains practical information, activities, and suggestions to assist with the development of the individual components that comprise the schoolwide planning process. The guide…

This document describes the essential elements of jobs for the Future's (JFF) four-state work force preparation policy proces. It begins with a brief outline of the following five steps: (1) use information to clarify necessary action; (2) create regional and community forums; (3) educate and empower the citizenry; (4) assess employer practices…

In authorizing charter schools, Colorado created an avenue for parents, teachers, and community members "to take responsible risks and create new, innovative, more flexible ways of educating all children within the public school system." A brief outline of charter schools, followed by detailed instructions on how to apply for and start a…

This booklet for parents of young children with disabilities describes Colorado's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) process. It provides information on IFSP guidelines, relates family stories and reflections for families and providers, and describes the values that drive the IFSP process in Colorado. Information is provided on…