Priority Improvement and Turnaround Districts in Colorado Division of Accountability, Performance and Support
District Accreditation CDE accredits districts in one of five categories: • Accredited with Distinction • Accredited • Accredited with Improvement Plan • Accredited with Priority Improvement Plan • Accredited with Turnaround Plan
District Accreditation 2010, 2011, 2012 Number of 2010 2011 Preliminary 2012 Districts Distinction 14 18 19 Accredited 97 94 86 Improvement 46 46 51 Priority 17 17 19 Improvement Turnaround 7 6 6
Priority Improvement and Turnaround Status • Under SB09-163, districts and schools may not remain on Priority Improvement or Turnaround Plans for more than five consecutive years. Those that do, face significant action from the State Board of Education. • For districts on Turnaround Plans, these actions may be directed prior to the end of the five years.
C.R.S. 22-11-209. Removal of Accreditation (1) The Department may recommend to the Commissioner and the State Board that the State Board remove a school district’s or the institute’s accreditation if: (a) The school district or the institute is accredited with turnaround plan and the department determines that the school district or the institute has failed to make substantial progress under its turnaround plan; or (b) The school district or the institute has been in the accredited with priority improvement plan category or lower for five consecutive school years; or (c) (I) The school district or the institute has substantially failed to comply with the provisions of article 44 of this title, concerning budget and financial policies and procedures, or article 45 of this title, concerning accounting and financial reporting;
C.R.S. 22-11-209. Removal of Accreditation (2) (a) If the department recommends removing accreditation pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall assign the state review panel to critically evaluate the school district's or the institute's performance and to recommend one or more of the following actions:
C.R.S. 22-11-209. Removal of Accreditation (A) That the school district be reorganized pursuant to article 30 of this title, which reorganization may include consolidation; (B) That a private or public entity, with the agreement of the school district, take over management of the school district or management of one or more of the district public schools; (C) That one or more of the district public schools be converted to a charter school ; (D) That one or more of the district public schools be granted status as an innovation school pursuant to section 22-32.5-104 or that the local school board recognize a group of district public schools as an innovation school zone pursuant to section 22-32.5-104; or (E) That one or more of the district public schools be closed
Role of CDE • Assign accreditation ratings to school districts • Review UIPs • Convene the State Review Panel • Provide recommendations for actions to the Commissioner and State Board, including removal of accreditation • Provide technical assistance
Role of State Board of Education • Enter into accreditation contracts with local school boards • Determine if accreditation should be removed from a school district • Direct a local board or the Institute to take a variety of actions, including restructuring or closing a school, if applicable
Dig into the Data • Priority Improvement or Turnaround: – 24 in 2010-11 – 23 in 2011-12 – 25 in 2012-13 per preliminary data • Accreditation ratings for 2012-13 will be final and public in November • Share preliminary data to see trends
Preliminary 2012 Priority Improvement or Turnaround Districts Entering Entering Entering Entering into into into into TOTAL Year 4* Year 3* Year 2* Year 1* Priority 0 10 4 5 19 Improvement Turnaround 3 2 0 1 6 TOTAL 3 12 4 6 25 * As of July 1, 2013
Cross-Unit Work School and Exceptional Improvement Federal Accountability District Student Planning Programs Performance Services Targeted General Support for Support PI/T Districts Field Service Performance Managers Managers (3 people) (4 people)
How will we support Priority Improvement and Turnaround Districts? • District and School visits (progress monitor) In-field support • Emphasis on key practices • Differentiated support • School Improvement Grant (SIG) support for some schools Funding • Possible new grants and partnerships • Grant monitoring for key practices Cross-CDE • Close work between units of: School and District Performance, Improvement Planning, Unit Alignment Accountability , Accountability Internal • “Coordinated Support Teams” Support Teams • Review of data, history, context, progress…
Grant Support 1003 (a & g): School Improvement Grant and Targeted District Improvement Grant Title I, II, III IDEA Clear expectations of funding use Measurable indicators of progress Leverage grants to make dramatic improvements Renewal decisions based on progress
Expectations • District and School leaders will take low accreditation ratings seriously and will make collaborative efforts to improve performance with urgency. • CDE will set clear performance expectations and provide as much support and direction as needed.
Turnaround Study by UCD’s Buechner Institute for Governance • Goals: – To review current state capacity and existing laws (SB 163) – To review promising turnaround solutions from other states and leading research – To analyze and make recommendations about most-promising options for turnaround districts and schools in Colorado • Final report will be issued in November
Potential Pathways for Priority Improvement and Turnaround Districts Reorganize or Consolidate Develop External Management Organizations Establish Charter or Innovation status Close Schools and Issue RFP for New Schools Creation of Recovery District
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