2004 Accountability Progress Report

Author : Colorado. Department of Education
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 26 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (16 download)

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Download or read book School Accountability Reports written by Colorado. Department of Education and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The report was issued as a statutory requirement of the Colorado State Board of Education. The report was directed to include, but not be limited to: (1) Whether student scores have improved since the accountability reports were issued in 2001; (2) Data on safety incidents involving students; (3) Whether the format of the School Accountability Reports (SARs) could be improved; (4) Whether the State Board or Department has been informed of problems with the SARs; and (5) Whether the State Board recommends that the SARs be continued. Gains since the first SAR indicate steady, but slow progress. The more significant gains are in the sheer number of schools that have been able to move up in the ratings from 2001 to 2004. Incidents involving student safety show nearly a 6% decline since 2001. Nine general issues identified by the report include: (1) Flexibility is needed for this Board to manage the quality and productivity of the SAR; (2) Data needs to be presented in a more readable format; (3) Colorado's three measures of holding schools accountable can be better communicated and reported to parents; (4) Clarify the use of the new academic growth rating for students; (5) Review and clean up statutory language on John Irwin Award Program; (6) Parents like the information on the SAR, but do not feel empowered to act; (7) Split schools require multiple SARs; (8) Use the Internet in a better way as an interactive communication toll with the SARs; and (9) Re-baseline weighted total scores to performance grades. Eighteen recommendations are discussed, these changes include verbiage changes for clarification, moving information from one part of the report to another, adding accreditation status and removal of irrelevant information. The report concludes that the School Accountability Report statutory language is one of the most prescriptive pieces of legislation that the State Board of Education must administer. While appreciating that the SAR is the most visible accountability system in Colorado, the State Board unanimously feels that added flexibility and less micromanagement of the reporting process would produce a more useful tool for both parents and policy-makers. Understanding the need for consistency with this type of report, the Board recommends making gradual changes over time rather than annual major overhauls. Allowing for the noted recommendations, the State Board of Education recommends the SAR be continued. The following are appended: (1) CSAP Trends 2001-2004; and (2) Safety Incidents and Actions Taken. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.).