In 2008, Colorado enacted Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K), which legislated the next generation of standards and assessments to ensure that Colorado students exit high school prepared for postsecondary and workforce success. CAP4K outlined higher academic standards and the development of 21st century skills for pre-school through after high school study in Colorado. Additionally, CAP4K put a focus on critical points of transition with statewide...

Overall, Colorado districts succeeded in administering the state's first online state wide assessments. Challenges were encountered along the way; however, districts and schools were committed to working through them in a manner that allowed students to complete testing. Lessons learned during the science and social studies administration and the PARCC administration will be invaluable to improving next year's assessment administration. Many of the...

At the national level and in the state of Colorado, school turnover reforms and interventions have produced mixed results. However, some studies have indicated that several districts and schools have experienced a degree of success in improving student academic outcomes. In this report, CADRE researchers share results from conducting a qualitative multi-site case study at three former low performing schools located in one school district that adopted...