Final district ratings shared

VALLEY — The Colorado State Board of Education on November 15 voted unanimously to maintain the current targets for achievement, growth and postsecondary workforce readiness used to determine school and district ratings.

Required by law to set the targets by November each year, the board has not adjusted the performance indicator targets since they were set in 2016 following the change to the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests. However, the board indicated an interest in raising the targets in the future.

“When we first set the targets, we were very clear that they were just a starting point, but I know that these kinds of changes have impacts and we need time to discuss this with schools and districts,” said Board Chairwoman Angelika Schroeder.

CDE staff will be gathering feedback over the next few months from districts, parents and education advocacy groups on the potential impact of adjusting the targets.

In addition, during the first half of 2019 the board will consider weightings given to the achievement, growth and postsecondary workforce readiness performance indicators. Board rules specify that growth and postsecondary workforce readiness indicators - which include graduation rates, dropout rates, college entrance exams and college matriculation rates - must be weighed the most.

Considerations on weightings and targets will take place during the rulemaking process required to implement House Bill 18-1355.

The new statute also requires the reintroduction of a growth-to-standard metric to the ratings. The growth-to-standard measure assesses student progress toward meeting grade-level expectations. For students who already meet grade-level expectations, the growth-to-standard measure assesses progress toward higher levels of achievement.

Education commissioner assigns district ratings

Commissioner of Education Katy Anthes presented final district accountability ratings for the state’s 178 districts and BOCES for the 2017-18 school year. The ratings are based on: 2018 CMAS PARCC English language arts and math achievement result; 2018 CMAS Science achievement results; 2017 graduation rates; 2017 dropout rates; 2017 matriculation rates; 2018 PSAT 9 & 10 math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing achievement Results; 2018 SAT math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing achievement Results; 2018 PSAT 9 & 10 growth results ; 2018 SAT growth results; and 2018 participation rates, with and without parent excuses included.

Preliminary ratings were issued in August, but districts could submit additional evidence earlier this fall for reconsideration of their ratings.

In the final ratings, 25 districts received the highest rating of distinction, including North Conejos School District in the San Luis Valley, 100 received the second-highest rating of accredited, including seven Valley school districts, and 50 received an improvement plan rating including six Valley school districts.  Only six districts received one of the lowest two ratings of priority improvement or turnaround, representing just 3 percent of all districts. None of those were in the Valley this year, although South Conejos School District was in the priority improvement category last year.

The purpose of the Colorado accountability ratings is to identify struggling schools to provide support and successful schools to be recognized and serve as models.

Schools and districts in Priority Improvement or Turnaround in the immediate or preceding school year can apply for grant funds to support educator professional development, implement activities geared towards instructional transformation, or choose one of the statutory options for schools and districts with persistent low performance.

San Luis Valley schools’ final rating, as announced November 15, are:

Alamosa — 2018: Accredited, meets 95 percent participation (2017: Accredited with improvement plan, meets 95 percent participation)

Centennial — 2018: Accredited with improvement plan, meets 95 percent participation (2017: Accredited, meets 95 percent participation)

Center — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited with improvement plan, meets 95 percent participation

Creede — 2018: Accredited, meets 95 percent participation (2017: Accredited with distinction, meets 95 percent participation)

Del Norte — 2018: Accredited with improvement plan, meets 95 percent participation (2017: Accredited with improvement plan, low participation)

Moffat — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited, meets 95 percent participation

Monte Vista — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited with improvement plan, low participation

Mountain Valley — 2018: Accredited with improvement plan, meets 95 percent participation (2017: Accredited with improvement plan, low participation)

North Conejos — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited with distinction, meets 95 percent participation

Sanford — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited, meets 95 percent participation

Sangre de Cristo — 2018: Accredited, meets 95 percent participation (2017: Accredited with distinction, meets 95 percent participation)

Sargent — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited, meets 95 percent participation

Sierra Grande — 2018 (and 2017): Accredited, meets 95 percent participation

South Conejos — 2018: Accredited with improvement plan, low participation (2017: Accredited with priority improvement plan, decreased due to participation)

See www.cde.state.co.us/accountability/performanceframeworkresults