State Accountability

Overview

The Education Accountability Act of 2009 authorizes the Colorado Department of Education to conduct an annual review of the performance of public schools and districts in the state and to make recommendations to the State Board of Education concerning the type of school improvement plan to be implemented in each school and the accreditation category for each district.

State Accountability Overview Fact Sheet (PDF)

About Colorado's Education Accountability System

Colorado’s education accountability system is based on the belief that every student should receive an excellent education and graduate ready to succeed. Successful schools and districts are recognized and serve as models, while those that are struggling receive support.

To support this goal, the Accountability and Continuous Improvement (ACI) Unit at CDE:

Calculates Growth on CMAS, PSAT and English language proficiency
Creates the School and District Performance Frameworks
Accredits school districts and assigns school plan type assignments
Reports student outcome data to the public and educators
Assists districts and CDE staff in using student performance data to drive decision making

Framework Results

Link to flat files of district and school Final 2023 Framework Results

Accountability Resources and Support

Link to resources, webinars and training regarding state accountability

Task Force to Study K-12 Accountability System

Link to information on the evaluation of accountability and

the associated Accountability Task Force

District Accountability Contacts

Accountability Contacts for the district will now be assigned using the IdM system. LAMs will assign the Accountability Contact role to the superintendent or the superintendent’s designees who will be responsible for

Submitting the Accreditation Form,
Receiving performance framework results and related data, including student Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Receiving accountability related communications

If you are interested in signing up to receive communications only, or would like to designate yourself as a contact for Improvement Planning work, fill out the Accountability and Improvement Contact Request Form.

For more information on the user set-up visit the online system set-up and management guide.

Announcements

Latest Accountability Communications:

(12/11/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Final Frameworks, Accreditation, UIP Feedback
(11/19/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- SBE Approval of 2025 Targets, 1241 Updates, Accreditation, UIP Reviews
(10/11/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Request to Reconsider - Actions needed, UIP Reviews, District Accreditation Contracts, 2025 Performance Framework Targets, 1241 Task Force
(08/08/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Achievement and Growth Data Release Dates, ACCESS ISR PDF Label Error, Resources
(7/23/2024) Accountability Update (PDF), PSAT/SAT SBE Memo (PDF)
- PSAT/SAT Update Memo, Contacts, Resources and Training Opportunities
(6/28/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- PSAT/SAT Update, TLCC Update, Upcoming Resources and Training Opportunities
(6/12/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- PSAT/SAT Accountability Study, Upcoming Data Release, Assigning District Accountability Contacts, Update to State Accountability Timeline, Updated Resources
(5/13/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Accountability Timeline and Updated Resources
(4/29/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- TLCC Results, SBD Review, UIP Rollover and Template, UIP Feedback, UIP Resources
(3/26/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
(2/22/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Spring 2024 Content Assessment Guidance for NEP_LEP First Year in US Schools Students Enrolled After October 1 Count
- CMAS and CoAlt Procedures Manual Spring 2024 First Year in US Multilingual Learners_Page 31
(1/31/2024) Accountability Update (PDF)
(12/11/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)
(11/13/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)
(11/03/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)
(8/29/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Preliminary Frameworks News Release (PDF)
(8/23/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)
- Preliminary Frameworks Overview (PDF)
(8/09/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)
(6/28/2023) Accountability Update (PDF)

Resources

Accountability resources are available at: https://www.cde.state.co.us/accountability/accountability-resources.

Release Timeline

Accountability-Related Data

Aug 12: Districts received their embargoed accountability-related data (files for Achievement, Growth, Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness indicators, and Participation Data; CMAS individual student growth reports (ISRs))
Aug 20: District embargo lifted. CDE will only publicly release state level summary data
Aug 29: CDE will publicly release school and district accountability-related data

Framework Release

Week of Aug 26: Districts receive embargoed preliminary School and District Performance Frameworks
Three business days later: Embargoed lifted on preliminary performance frameworks
Mid-Sept: Districts receive AEC frameworks

Anticipated Timeframe	Activities/Actions
August 12	Districts receive EMBARGOED performance framework data files for Achievement, Growth, Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness indicators, and Participation Data; CMAS individual student growth reports (ISRs) available for download and sharing with families; UIP and Secure Data Explorer (N of 1) Data Dashboards available.
August 20 (11 am)	Embargo for state-level achievement and growth data lifts. State-level data posted on CDE website. Districts can share their own district- and school-level results. CDE hosts a media briefing on state-level achievement and growth results.
Week of August 26	Districts receive preliminary School and District Performance Frameworks. Public release will be three business days later. Performance data updated in Online UIP System for assurances and plan requirements. Accreditation form and request to reconsider process launched. (Aug 29) CDE presents achievement and growth results to the State Board of Education. Embargo for district- and school-level achievement and growth data lifts at noon. District and school-level data posted on CDE website.
Early September	Identification letter sent to districts listing schools on the accountability clock (i.e., Priority Improvement, Turnaround, On Watch) and/or ESSA Identifications (i.e., Comprehensive Support, Targeted Support).
Mid-September	AEC Performance Frameworks Released to Districts. Public Release 3 business days later.
September 23	Accreditation Form Submissions Due - ALL Districts
October 15	Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) Submissions Due Final Request to Reconsider (R2R) Materials Due - Participating Districts
November 13-14 (SBE Meeting)	District Accreditation Ratings & School Plan Types Finalized for Districts/Schools not participating in R2R
December 11-12 (SBE Meeting)	District Accreditation Ratings & School Plan Types Finalized for Districts/Schools participating in R2R
By December 31	District Accreditation Contracts Due
January 15	January UIP Submissions Due - Newly Identified, Sites that Participated in R2R

Contact Us

For more information, please contact accountability@cde.state.co.us.