Colorado
U.S.
Rank
Score:
85%
Grade:
B
Rank:
#7
Colorado’s charter schools are well-funded and well recognized in the state and around the country and enjoy bi-partisan and broad public support.
Law passed: 1993
Most recently amended: 2019
Number of charter schools: 266
Number of charter students: 126,947
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? Yes
AUTHORIZERS: Local districts and the Colorado Charter Schools Institute (CCSI), a statewide authorizer, but only in districts that do not have exclusive operating authority. Districts with fewer than 3,000 students automatically receive exclusive operating authority, or those that apply for it. Appeals for denied applications go to the state board of education, which can require the district to reconsider. Second appeals go back to the state board which can then overturn the decision and require the local district or CCSI to authorize. The State Board has had to intervene in several district attempts to close successful charter schools, such as the case of Vega Collegiate Academy in Aurora in 2019, which, in its first year of operating in 2017-18 had the state’s highest math growth scores. Despite that, the district voted to shut down the school. After the State Board intervened, the district unanimously reversed the decision.
GROWTH: No caps here, and there has been steady growth in the state with a 5% increase in the number of students attending charters in the last year.
OPERATIONS: Charter schools receive automatic waivers from many laws and regulations that govern districts, providing a reasonable amount of autonomy.
EQUITY: Operations funding is to be no less than 95% according to law. Limited facilities funding in the form of grants from the state’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program, a competitive grant program, can be used for constructing new school facilities, including charter schools. Starting with the 2019-2020 school year, local school boards are required to implement a plan for distributing the additional mill levy (tax) revenue districts collect each year to charter or innovation schools in the district. Alternatively, local school boards may distribute to charter and innovation schools in the district an amount equal to at least 95% of the district’s per-pupil mill levy share for the applicable budget year. Charter schools authorized by CCSI, not local school boards, have access to a mill levy equalization fund, which is funded by legislative appropriation.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#21
There are no choice programs in this state.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#26
Does not set a bar for entry to teacher prep programs and has only average requirements for teachers to demonstrate content knowledge; however does offer financial incentives to teachers for certain high needs areas.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 69%
General Teacher Preparation 68%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 80%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 65%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 65%
Alternate Routes 65%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 71%
Hiring 60%
Retaining Effective Teachers 82%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 81%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 68%
Score:
85%
Grade:
B
Rank:
#7
Colorado’s charter schools are well-funded and well recognized in the state and around the country and enjoy bi-partisan and broad public support.
Law passed: 1993
Most recently amended: 2019
Number of charter schools: 266
Number of charter students: 126,947
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? Yes
AUTHORIZERS: Local districts and the Colorado Charter Schools Institute (CCSI), a statewide authorizer, but only in districts that do not have exclusive operating authority. Districts with fewer than 3,000 students automatically receive exclusive operating authority, or those that apply for it. Appeals for denied applications go to the state board of education, which can require the district to reconsider. Second appeals go back to the state board which can then overturn the decision and require the local district or CCSI to authorize. The State Board has had to intervene in several district attempts to close successful charter schools, such as the case of Vega Collegiate Academy in Aurora in 2019, which, in its first year of operating in 2017-18 had the state’s highest math growth scores. Despite that, the district voted to shut down the school. After the State Board intervened, the district unanimously reversed the decision.
GROWTH: No caps here, and there has been steady growth in the state with a 5% increase in the number of students attending charters in the last year.
OPERATIONS: Charter schools receive automatic waivers from many laws and regulations that govern districts, providing a reasonable amount of autonomy.
EQUITY: Operations funding is to be no less than 95% according to law. Limited facilities funding in the form of grants from the state’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program, a competitive grant program, can be used for constructing new school facilities, including charter schools. Starting with the 2019-2020 school year, local school boards are required to implement a plan for distributing the additional mill levy (tax) revenue districts collect each year to charter or innovation schools in the district. Alternatively, local school boards may distribute to charter and innovation schools in the district an amount equal to at least 95% of the district’s per-pupil mill levy share for the applicable budget year. Charter schools authorized by CCSI, not local school boards, have access to a mill levy equalization fund, which is funded by legislative appropriation.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#21
There are no choice programs in this state.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#26
Does not set a bar for entry to teacher prep programs and has only average requirements for teachers to demonstrate content knowledge; however does offer financial incentives to teachers for certain high needs areas.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 69%
General Teacher Preparation 68%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 80%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 65%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 65%
Alternate Routes 65%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 71%
Hiring 60%
Retaining Effective Teachers 82%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 81%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 68%
Score:
Grade:
B
Rank:
#6
In light of COVID-19, the state has made an effort to ensure districts have enough devices for all of their students. The state is still struggling with internet connectivity gaps for rural communities, which has been an ongoing problem long before the pandemic. Many rural districts are working with Colorado Empowered Learning, which works towards enhancing equity and access by providing support for schools to implement technology into the classroom. There are currently more than 100 participating school districts.
Colorado Digital Learning Solutions is a state virtual school that opened in 2015 to provide statewide online and blended learning to middle and high school students in district and charter schools. CDLS offers supplemental courses in credit retrieval, AP, Career and Technical Education, and Dual Enrollment. There are approximately 178 participating districts, and in 2019 there were over 2,500 students enrolled.
Colorado’s Adams 12 Five Star Schools are a part of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, giving digital learning opportunities to approximately 40,000 students in the state. The League of Innovative Schools is a network of school leaders in 114 districts in 34 states that aim to enhance and scale digital learning opportunities for students across the nation.
Bandwidth: “99.8% of students in Colorado can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds. But there is still work to be done. 1,963 students still need more bandwidth for digital learning.”
Colorado’s graduation requirements are one of the most flexible and innovative in the country, encouraging competency over time on task. “In addition to traditional measures, there are myriad performance-based assessments that students can use to demonstrate readiness. Local school districts also have the authority to adapt demonstrations of competency to accommodate for the unique needs of students with disabilities and English learners.” The state provides a menu of options for students to demonstrate college and career readiness ranging from SAT and ACT scores, and capstone projects or industry certificates.
The Innovation School Act of 2008 promotes personalized learning by giving districts the flexibility to experiment with new and creative instructional practices in the classroom. There are currently 106 innovation schools in the state.
In 2019 legislation created the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program, offering high school students experiences outside of the classroom to prepare them for college and career with apprenticeships, residency programs, and college courses. “The 2020-21 school year will be the pilot year of the Innovative Learning Opportunities Program. It is the intent of the General Assembly to increase the number of LEPs that participate in this program to 100% participation by 2025-26”
On a district level, Westminster Public Schools is the largest school district in the nation to use a fully competency-based learning model from preschool to high school.
Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic included a relatively early decision to close schools, with guidance for schools to make every effort to provide alternative learning opportunities while taking their communities’ needs into account.
On March 24, the state released guidance for remote instruction.
“CDE acknowledges how challenging and evolving these circumstances are and how varied our districts are in their resources and capabilities. When school cannot be conducted in-person, we know that it is not possible to provide the same educational experience. We know it will take creativity, ingenuity and flexibility to provide alternative learning opportunities for students and that those will differ based on local contexts and individual student needs.”
Overall, schools were encouraged to continue instruction so students could continue learning in the midst of the crisis. Colorado provided a strong resource page for technological resources and educational tools to enhance the distance learning process. Additionally, resources were provided that helped train teachers and users in these platforms. Learn more.
Governor Polis was very forceful in his push to have schools reopen for in person instruction.
Fast Facts
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Score:
Grade:
B
Rank:
#6
In light of COVID-19, the state has made an effort to ensure districts have enough devices for all of their students. The state is still struggling with internet connectivity gaps for rural communities, which has been an ongoing problem long before the pandemic. Many rural districts are working with Colorado Empowered Learning, which works towards enhancing equity and access by providing support for schools to implement technology into the classroom. There are currently more than 100 participating school districts.
Colorado Digital Learning Solutions is a state virtual school that opened in 2015 to provide statewide online and blended learning to middle and high school students in district and charter schools. CDLS offers supplemental courses in credit retrieval, AP, Career and Technical Education, and Dual Enrollment. There are approximately 178 participating districts, and in 2019 there were over 2,500 students enrolled.
Colorado’s Adams 12 Five Star Schools are a part of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, giving digital learning opportunities to approximately 40,000 students in the state. The League of Innovative Schools is a network of school leaders in 114 districts in 34 states that aim to enhance and scale digital learning opportunities for students across the nation.
Bandwidth: “99.8% of students in Colorado can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds. But there is still work to be done. 1,963 students still need more bandwidth for digital learning.”
Colorado’s graduation requirements are one of the most flexible and innovative in the country, encouraging competency over time on task. “In addition to traditional measures, there are myriad performance-based assessments that students can use to demonstrate readiness. Local school districts also have the authority to adapt demonstrations of competency to accommodate for the unique needs of students with disabilities and English learners.” The state provides a menu of options for students to demonstrate college and career readiness ranging from SAT and ACT scores, and capstone projects or industry certificates.
The Innovation School Act of 2008 promotes personalized learning by giving districts the flexibility to experiment with new and creative instructional practices in the classroom. There are currently 106 innovation schools in the state.
In 2019 legislation created the Innovative Learning Opportunities Pilot Program, offering high school students experiences outside of the classroom to prepare them for college and career with apprenticeships, residency programs, and college courses. “The 2020-21 school year will be the pilot year of the Innovative Learning Opportunities Program. It is the intent of the General Assembly to increase the number of LEPs that participate in this program to 100% participation by 2025-26”
On a district level, Westminster Public Schools is the largest school district in the nation to use a fully competency-based learning model from preschool to high school.
Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic included a relatively early decision to close schools, with guidance for schools to make every effort to provide alternative learning opportunities while taking their communities’ needs into account.
On March 24, the state released guidance for remote instruction.
“CDE acknowledges how challenging and evolving these circumstances are and how varied our districts are in their resources and capabilities. When school cannot be conducted in-person, we know that it is not possible to provide the same educational experience. We know it will take creativity, ingenuity and flexibility to provide alternative learning opportunities for students and that those will differ based on local contexts and individual student needs.”
Overall, schools were encouraged to continue instruction so students could continue learning in the midst of the crisis. Colorado provided a strong resource page for technological resources and educational tools to enhance the distance learning process. Additionally, resources were provided that helped train teachers and users in these platforms. Learn more.
Governor Polis was very forceful in his push to have schools reopen for in person instruction.
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Jared Polis (D)
First term began in 2019 (two-term limit)
Democratic Governor Jared Polis was re-elected and has always been an ally to those who believe in parent power and allowing families to choose the best educational path for their children even having founded and co-founded two different charter schools. Colorado has made strides in the area of traditional school choice and other innovations. Here’s hoping Governor Polis will roll up his sleeves and continue to find creative ways to transform Colorado into a national leader of education policy.
The House and Senate, both Democrat controlled, have enacted some educational choice policies in recent years, but most of the time are more influenced by the state’s teachers union than anything else. In 2019, the Senate passed a bill that would have disconnected the state’s 529 savings programs from the federal tax code, which would prevent parents in the state from using their 529 funds for K-12 education costs. Thankfully, the bill was defeated in the House which has consistently put students first in education policy decisions over the last couple years.
Colorado’s constitution contains a Blaine Amendment which has been used to limit educational options for families in Colorado.
Transparency and accountability data from school report cards are easily accessible on the DOE homepage by clicking School View on the banner and Data Center. Report cards are not user-friendly, as you must click through various tabs to find information that is often missing or dated. Educational options are easy to find right on the main page, under Quality Schools, which is a plus.
The citizens of Colorado get to vote in school board elections when they go to the polls for other races, which is good for parent power.
Jared Polis (D)
First term began in 2019 (two-term limit)
Democratic Governor Jared Polis was re-elected and has always been an ally to those who believe in parent power and allowing families to choose the best educational path for their children even having founded and co-founded two different charter schools. Colorado has made strides in the area of traditional school choice and other innovations. Here’s hoping Governor Polis will roll up his sleeves and continue to find creative ways to transform Colorado into a national leader of education policy.
The House and Senate, both Democrat controlled, have enacted some educational choice policies in recent years, but most of the time are more influenced by the state’s teachers union than anything else. In 2019, the Senate passed a bill that would have disconnected the state’s 529 savings programs from the federal tax code, which would prevent parents in the state from using their 529 funds for K-12 education costs. Thankfully, the bill was defeated in the House which has consistently put students first in education policy decisions over the last couple years.
Colorado’s constitution contains a Blaine Amendment which has been used to limit educational options for families in Colorado.
Transparency and accountability data from school report cards are easily accessible on the DOE homepage by clicking School View on the banner and Data Center. Report cards are not user-friendly, as you must click through various tabs to find information that is often missing or dated. Educational options are easy to find right on the main page, under Quality Schools, which is a plus.
The citizens of Colorado get to vote in school board elections when they go to the polls for other races, which is good for parent power.