Policy Background

• Colorado Department of Education policies
• Colorado's competency-based graduation guidelines (2013) 
• May 2015: The state Board of Education on Thursday rejected a revised plan spelling out what Colorado students must do to earn a high school diploma, leaving in place a blueprint adopted two years ago while making clear the discussion isn't over.
• August 2014: State leadership in Colorado has formed a Competency-based Study Group to better understand the benefits and challenges of implementing competency education. The study group is facilitated by Achieve. Members of the group have already visited Lindsay in CA and will have a day long seminar with state officials from Maine.
• Developing a graduate profile led by Colorado Education Initiative (2017)
• Video by CCSSO

Evidence of Improved Achievement, Attainment, or Cost-Effectiveness 

• Graduation Data for the Class of 2010-11 
• Adams 50 preliminary results, 2014

Networks and Resources

• Multi-District Performance-Based Accountability Pilot, an Assessment for Learning project (2016)
  
• Member, ACHIEVE Competency-based Pathways State Partnership network, 2014
• The Innovation, Choice, and Engagement Division oversees online and blended learning, charter, and innovation schools.
• Donnell-Kay Foundation invests in supporting innovations in districts and schools.
• Colorado Education Initiative is a leading intermediary. They've supported CBE in concert with CDE through work with the schools and districts in the Next Generation Learn Challenge coalition. GSP is also providing TA.  Colorado is using the   InspirEd platform developed by 2revs.
• Educators in Colorado (w/New Hampshire) are participating in 2revs Work Study Practices/Essential Skills & Disposition Network (2016 from 2 Revs newsletter)
• Fifth Day, launched by Donnel-Kay Foundation
• In addition to Adams 50, one of the early innovators of competency education, Colorado Springs District 11 and Thompson School District are participating in an initiative to expand next generation learning in partnership with the Colorado Department of Education and The Colorado Education Initiative and funded by Next Generation Learning Challenges. Each district will focus on two schools. Adams 50 has done an extraordinary job in elementary school and is getting results. They will focus on Westminster High School and Ranum Middle School as part of their effort. (See post about how high school transformation was constrained by lack of innovation on part of SIS provider).

Districts and Schools

Private 

• Eagle Rock: article in 2017

Aurora -- Aurora Central High School 

• Chalkbeat article Dec 2016

District 51 - Grand Junction (new supt Ken Haptonstall)

• Five Design Lab Themes (Summary)
• Growth Mindset Learning Continuum
• Media coverage on habits of mind
• Performance-based learning has been topic in 2015 school board elections
• Explanation of performance-based system
• Participant in Multi-District Performance-Based Accountability Pilot
• Video of teacher Darren Cook
• Video with Supt Steve Schultz and students from R5 (don't be fooled by the computers -- D51 is designing PBL without a lot of technology in their classrooms; this happens to be one school that there are more devices but it is not 1:1)
• Article by Education Reimagined (2017)
• Article about shifting to Latin honor system (2017)
• Article about community trust and implementation (Aug 2017)
• See Teaching and Learning Framework (2017)
• An Update on D51: The Teaching & Learning Framework 

Westminster (used to be Adams 50 and see wiki page on Adams 50

• Building a Body of Learning Evidence: English Language Development in Adams County School District 50 
• Is There Enough Time for Learning? 
• Article in Chalkbeat December 2016
• Lessons from a Vanguard: A Look at Metz Elementary 

Denver Public Schools has developed a competency-based high school, and is beginning to consider barriers to implementing mastery-based learning across DPS schools.

• Contemporary Learning Academy High School  
• CompetencyWorks Blog (2015) on new school developing (funded by Carnegie Corporation Opportunity by Design)
• Diploma Plus, in Denver
• International Studies School Network 
• Roots Elementary
• Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning 
• World Compass Academy
• Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design (DSISD) 
• Moving From Theory to Practice
• Competency-Based by Design 

Durango -- Durango SD is implementing competency based ed district-wide this year. Superintendent Dan Snowberger has been leading efforts for years to build up strong instructional practice, standards-based learning and establish partnerships with the two local institutions of higher ed, one community college and Ft. Lewis College. (2017)

• Florida Mesa Elementary (Principal: Vanessa Fisher) -- not confirmed
• Article March 2017

Frisco

• Peak School (private) - article 2017

Thompson

• Video on Conrad Ball Middle School (2017)
• Participant in Multi-District Performance-Based Accountability Pilot
• Personalized Learning Continuum
• Competency-Based Education Overview
• Student Self-Assessment
• Traditional v Differentiation v Personalization Chart
• Implementation Timeline 
• Article about improvements in two low schools 2017
• Article 2017
• Student-Driven Learning at Work! 
• Districts exploring the idea of competency education (not confirmed and not known to what extent): Boulder, Center, Pagosa Springs, Salida, Strasburg, Archuleta, Bayfield, Greeley
•  Thompson and Adams 50 with CO Education Initiative has Educause NGLC grant
• Article in Ed Week (oct 2017)
  

In the News

• Article by Chalkbeat Colorado (May 2015)