Accountability and Performance
The Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids Act of 2008 and The Education Accountability Act of 2009 are two pieces of legislation aimed at ensuring Colorado students graduate from high school and are prepared for higher education or success in the work place. These laws established a system that holds school districts and individual schools accountable on a set of consistent, objective measures, including four key performance measures - achievement, growth, closing gaps, and postsecondary/workforce readiness. For districts, the evaluation of overall performance on these indicators leads to an accreditation designation by the state. For schools, the evaluation of overall performance on these indicators leads to the assignment of the type of improvement plan schools will implement.
The Colorado Department of Education issues district and school level Performance Framework Reports which provide a snapshot of the district's or school's performance. You can review Jeffco's accreditation designation on the Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView website. See individual school's accreditation status:
Colorado Growth Model
The Colorado Growth Model measures the academic progress each student has made in a year. However, instead of just saying how many points a student has gained or lost since the previous year, the model tells us how a student’s progress compares to other students with a similar CSAP score history. View the school growth and achievement data on Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView website.
See also: Understanding Your Child's Academic Progress.
Schools Recognized for Outstanding Achievement
Each year, the Colorado Department of Education recognizes schools that have demonstrated the highest achievement in the state. It is given to the top eight percent of schools in Colorado.
Student Assessments
The Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) has been phased out.
Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, instead of taking TCAP, all students will take the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), an online computer test. The CMAS name encompasses the Colorado-developed science and social studies assessments as well as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)-developed, English language arts (ELA) and mathematics assessments. Colorado’s CMAS tests are designed to meet higher academic standards and to better prepare students for career and college.
- 4th, 7th, and 12th grade students take an online social studies test.
- 5th, 8th and 12th grade students take an online science test.
- 3rd through 11th grade students take tests in English language arts and mathematics.
CMAS is administered in the fall for 12th-grade students and in the spring for all other grade levels. Students are assigned a performance level of Limited Command, Moderate Command, Strong Command or Distinguished Command.
Visit the School Profiles for individual school test scores. To compare Jeffco Public School results with other school districts see the Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView website.
Assessment and Growth Model Results
The Colorado Department of Education's SchoolView website provides the results for all district and individual school performance data. Additional information about Jeffco Public Schools' performance can be found in the annual report to the community, on each school's online profile.