In the 1990s the Independence Institute helped to pioneer the idea of school report cards, a first step to empowering parents with information about the academic achievement of Colorado public schools. During that same time the state of Colorado began to implement the Colorado Statewide Assessment Program (CSAP), which now tests students from grades 3 to 10 in areas that include reading, writing, math and science.

The Colorado General Assembly adopted legislation in 2000 creating the School Accountability Reports. Since 2009, the state has measured public school performance using the Colorado growth model, which takes into account both school-wide testing status and year-to-year gains by individual students.

Check here for the latest on school performance

Colorado Department of Education Resources:

• Colorado Department of Education, SchoolVIEW.org (Colorado growth model and performance data)
• Accountability, Performance, and Support (School and District Performance Frameworks and more)
• Colorado Department of Education, Assessment Unit (test score data and Colorado Academic Standards information)

Other Resources:

• U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): The Nation’s Report Card
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2012 PISA test results

A safe environment is an important consideration for parents in choosing a school. State and local policies can help to ensure parents are clearly and accurately informed about the violent acts and other crimes that contribute to a school’s environment.

Check here for the latest on school safety

Education Policy Center Resources:

• Addressing Safety Reporting Deficiencies on Colorado’s School Accountability Report (IP-2-2006) by Pamela Benigno and Kirsten Hasler