NEW STATE ACCOUNTABILITY LAW
CDE is in charge of the implementation of SB 09-163, a bill I sponsored. The first part of the bill’s implementation occurred on August 7, when the results of the year’s CSAP exams became available. CDE posted the results on its website (www.cde.state.co.us) through “School View,” which incorporates the test results in the Colorado Growth Model.
SB 09-163 eliminates the School Accountability Reports (SARs) and the ratings of schools that they provided. Instead, schools and districts will be held accountable through the measurement of student growth and achievement, gaps in growth and achievement among different populations, and postsecondary readiness – this information will be posted on the CDE website and on every district’s website. Accountability committees will play a stronger role in helping schools and districts do their planning for improvement. Both of my bills SB 09-90 and SB 09-163 require all districts and schools – including charter schools – to have accountability committees and require greater parent involvement on these committees.