Many metrics along K-12 education may serve as indicators of potential success, but they are not goals. Students must leave the public school system at least proficient enough to face the tasks ahead. At the moment when students depart the K-12 system to enter college or career, it matters neither how proficient they were years before, nor the…

This paper explores current Colorado postsecondary academic assessment and accountability efforts and offers a framework for decision-making about how to alter or enhance those efforts. The paper makes a distinction between assessment and accountability efforts from the statewide perspective. Assessment is defined as the use of measurement…

The policy analysis examines application of permanency planning principles (services in family settings that provide continuity in relationships) to services for developmentally disabled children (through age 21) in Colorado. Section I provides an extensive description of permanency planning principles and a discussion of their theoretical and…

This paper looks at current trends in higher education nationally and in Colorado. It offers projections for the future to assist the development of possible strategies and directions for higher education in the early 21st Century. Opening sections look at higher education broadly noting the Colorado vision statement for postsecondary education,…

This paper identified factors within the higher education environment that significantly influence student retention rates and the timely graduation of traditional full-time, first-time, degree seeking students in the state of Colorado. The paper uses the research findings of national studies and other studies conducted by Wisconsin and…

This publication presents the Colorado Statewide Master Plan for its higher education system from 1993 through 1998 and is organized around eight goals. The goals are: (1) to assist Coloradans to become citizens of the nation and the world by providing access to highest quality education; (2) to provide equal access for those who have historically…

This report presents tables, charts and analysis on projection of demand for Colorado postsecondary education from 1993 to 2002 for use as a baseline in policy making discussion. The projections are called "baseline" because they are based on an "All Things Remaining the Same" assumption, assuming that current enrollment…

This paper presents an evaluation of Colorado's educational needs related to economic competitiveness and to providing equal access to higher education. The paper looks at the Colorado economy's shift toward an information/service based system. Thus the paper argues, the educational needs of Colorado's workforce are higher and to maintain its…

This paper looks at meeting Colorado student expectations of higher education by looking at demographic trends within Colorado's current undergraduate student population and some of the factors that may influence future student needs. Section I looks at the state's student population and notes that, though nationally 33 percent of undergraduates…