2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 22 - Education
General and Administrative
Article 7 - Educational Accountability
Part 10 - Preschool to Postsecondary Education Alignment
§ 22-7-1005. Preschool through elementary and secondary education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions

(1) On or before December 15, 2009, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a student should acquire as the student progresses from preschool through elementary and secondary education.

(2) (a) The state board shall ensure that the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, at a minimum, include standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, geography, visual arts, performing arts, physical education, world languages, English language competency, economics, civics, financial literacy, and any other instructional areas for which the state board had adopted standards as of January 1, 2008.

(b) In developing the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, the state board shall also take into account any career and technical education standards adopted by the state board for community colleges and occupational education, created in section 23-60-104, C.R.S., and, to the extent practicable, shall align the appropriate portions of the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards with the career and technical education standards.

(c) In developing the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards, the state board shall include identification of the levels of attainment that a student shall achieve in order to demonstrate readiness for promotion from elementary grades to middle school grades and from middle school grades to high school grades.

(2.5) On or before July 1, 2018, the state board shall adopt standards that identify the knowledge and skills that a secondary student should acquire related to computer science, including computer code writing, in one or more courses that qualify as a graduation requirement in either mathematics or science. Local education providers may elect to implement the standards adopted pursuant to this subsection (2.5).

(3) The state board in adopting the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards shall:

(a) Align the standards to ensure that a student who demonstrates attainment of the standards as the student advances from preschool through elementary and secondary education will be able to demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness prior to or upon attaining a high school diploma;

(b) Collaborate with the commission to ensure that the standards are aligned with the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness adopted pursuant to section 22-7-1008;

(c) Ensure that the standards will facilitate longitudinal measurement of each student's academic growth from preschool through elementary and secondary education;

(d) Ensure that the standards include development of postsecondary planning skills and the application of those skills;

(e) Ensure that, in addition to measuring a student's subject matter knowledge, the standards, to the extent practicable, will require a student to develop and demonstrate creativity and innovation skills; critical-thinking and problem-solving skills; communication and collaboration skills; social and cultural awareness; civic engagement; initiative and self-direction; flexibility; productivity and accountability; character and leadership; information technology application skills; and other skills critical to preparing students for the twenty-first-century workforce and for active citizenship; and

(f) Ensure that the standards are comparable in scope, relevance, and rigor to the highest national and international standards that have been implemented successfully and are consistent with and relevant to achievement of the goals specified in section 22-7-1002.

(4) Repealed.

(5) The state board shall modify the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards adopted pursuant to this section as necessary in response to comments received through the peer review process and to reflect the contents of the state plan approved pursuant to section 22-7-1012.

(6) On or before July 1, 2018, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the state board shall review and adopt any appropriate revisions to the preschool through elementary and secondary education standards specified in this section. In adopting revisions, the state board may add or delete one or more of the specific instructional areas based on the needs of the state and changes in national and international academic expectations. In adopting revisions to the standards pursuant to this subsection (6), the state board shall ensure that the standards continue to meet the requirements specified in subsection (3) of this section.