An innovative system-building initiative known as the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) is transforming U.S. STEM education through cross-sector partnerships between schools, afterschool and summer programs, libraries, museums, and businesses, among others. Although logic models exist to describe how SLEs can make positive…

According to the "2014-2015 State of the States in Gifted Education", Colorado is the only state in the United States where a series of on-site, customized twice-exceptional professional development (2E PD) opportunities have been implemented. The purpose of this case study evaluation was to understand the implementation of 2E PD during…

Care Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRISs) have advanced and matured, a number of states and localities have undertaken evaluations to validate the systems. Such efforts stem from the desire to ensure that the system is designed and operating in the ways envisioned when the system was established. Given that a central component in a QRIS…

These "Stories From the Field" describe five Wallace-funded programs working to expand learning and enrichment for disadvantaged children, so they can benefit from the types of opportunities their wealthier counterparts have access to, from homework help to swimming classes. The report details each program's approach, successes and…

This paper presents a profile of Colorado's Qualistar prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family…

A WORKSHOP FOR SUPERVISING-TEACHERS WAS ORGANIZED TO PLAN, EXPLORE, AND INNOVATE A MORE COMPLETE PROGRAM IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. THE WORKSHOP ALSO INCLUDED DISCUSSION OF ESSENTIAL PHASES OF THE OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS AS THEY APPLY TO THE PREPARATION OF STUDENT TEACHERS. THIS REPORT INCLUDED (1) A LIST OF PARTICIPANTS FROM 11 WESTERN…

The Central Region states (Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming) lag behind the nation in the rate of participation in supplemental educational services that schools failing to make adequate progress for three consecutive years must offer to eligible students under the No Child Left Behind Act. This study…

This program review guide discusses the Colorado Education Improvement Program, a process that enables local school districts and the Colorado Department of Education to provide quality education to Colorado's children, including migrant children. The purposes of the program are: (1) to provide a process for state education officials to supervise…

The major purpose of the Title V program, Designing Education for the Future, is to assist educators and lay citizens in the eight participating States in devising a program of educational improvement. This report by the project director presents information on educational changes covered by the program and builds a rationale for effecting these…

A survey was conducted of 687 teachers and 768 administrators on the implementation and perceptions of Colorado's mandated certificated personnel performance evaluation system, which requires that all school districts adopt performance standards for certificated personnel and that all administrators receive training in personnel evaluation skills.…

Colorado's Educational Accountability Act, enacted in 1971, requires that each of the state's 181 school districts undergo a process of planning and implementing school improvements. This report utilized local districts' findings to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent is the Educational Accountability Act being implemented in…

This year the Center on Education Policy (CEP) analyzed data on the achievement of different groups of students in two distinct ways. First, it looked at grade 4 test results to determine whether the performance of various groups improved at three achievement levels--basic and above, proficient and above, and advanced. Second, it looked at gaps…

The Indicators of Quality Schools is a series of checklists of schoolwide practices or conditions found in schools known to have an effective instructional program. The instrument is designed to help schools identify areas of strength and areas where improvement is needed. The instrument consists of three parts: (1) the environment for learning,…

A Colorado school district has evolved a plan for continuous updating of curriculum that is broad in scope, involves the external environment, and integrates the efforts of citizens and educators. The first step of the external audit process involves the development of goals and an overview of a state-of-the-art program by the program manager and…

The procedures and results of a pilot program in a statewide assessment of learning in Colorado are presented. Findings and conclusions of the project in which the Common Status Measures of the U.S. Office of Education were administered to 12,000 pupils in 31 school districts concurrently with objectives-referenced items developed by the Colorado…