Purpose: This paper explores how leaders of new public high schools -- one charter and two innovation schools -- navigated the journey from school-in-theory to school-in-practice during the school's first three years. School leaders at charter and innovation schools have increased freedom over curriculum, budget, scheduling and personnel when…

The recommendations in this brief create a framework for using data effectively to make instructional decisions. The availability of student-level data for educators has pushed forward the movement to strengthen the role of data to guide instruction and improve student learning. While improvements in technology and assessments, as well as recent…

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 report provides six mini-case studies of higher education policy reforms enacted in other states, exploring the important role that state policy leadership played in developing, promoting, and implementing these policies aimed at improving higher education outcomes, and discussing the relevance of each reform effort for California. This…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to conduct a participatory program evaluation of student engagement assessment in Colorado State University's (CSU) Warner College of Natural Resources (WCNR). The college requested the evaluation after completing two pilot studies of undergraduate engagement which led them to consider establishing the…

This paper serves as the Colorado Department of Education's (CDE's) third annual update on the progress and plan for the implementation of the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K). Enclosed within this report is a narrative that documents accomplishments to date with respect to key deliverables, as well as supporting appendices, including…

In fall 2007, and in alignment with the strategic plan of the Colorado State Board of Education, the Colorado Department of Education released "Forward Thinking," a plan which publicly announced seven goals that, when attained, would culminate in a statewide system of accountability and support addressing the needs of all districts. Some…

This pamphlet presents a strategic plan to guide and direct the Special Education Services Unit of the Colorado State Board of Education as it seeks to meet the needs of Colorado students with disabilities and their families. The plan was developed by parents, educators, administrators, policymakers, advocates, and representatives of other groups…

In September 2007 the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado State Board of Education jointly announced the launch of "Forward Thinking", an ambitious plan "to create a purpose-driven and dynamic system of educational leadership, service and support that relentlessly focuses on the learning of all students." The…

This report presents data and recommendations for the development of Colorado's system of higher education. It deals primarily with the public institutions. Chapter 1 assesses the needs for higher education in the state with regard to enrollment projections, distribution of the population, availability of extension courses, and the number of…

This statewide plan for higher education is based on the concepts of a rolling five-year plan, wherein planning occurs constantly five years into the future, concurrent with more immediate ongoing programs and budgeting. It is a formal, statewide planning process. The broad aim of postsecondary education in Colorado is stated: to promote and…

Since 2007, "Forward Thinking" has provided the roadmap for the department's work. These goals have served the department well in aligning and focusing the work at hand. The goals are: (1) Provide guidance and support to meet school and district needs; (2) Enhance professional development involving best practices; (3) Develop tools to…

This document states the vision for technology in Colorado education, lists requirements for accomplishing this vision, and specifies instructional, administrative, and networking needs. The following goals are then outlined with specific objectives for each goal: (1) technology should support curriculum and learning; (2) technology planning…

A profile of achievements and future challenges facing Colorado's public education system is offered in this document. Section 1 describes challenges of the future, focusing on needs assessment and the changes in the state's demography. The second section provides information on educational developments and issues, such as accountability, national…

The performance and goals of the Colorado education system are evaluated in this report, with a focus using progress indicators to establish baseline levels of performance. Colorado 2000's six goals are based on the National Education Goals established in 1989, and are described under the following headings: (1) "Readiness"; (2)…