File: AE (Option 1) - Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment

NOTE: While Colorado school districts are not required by law to adopt a policy on this subject, some content in this sample reflects legal requirements school districts must follow. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the district should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

NOTE: This sample policy is for districts with a student enrollment of 1,000 or more and for those "small rural" districts with less than 1,000 students that choose to have both a district accountability committee and school accountability committee(s).

The Board accepts its ultimate responsibility for the academic accomplishments of district students. Consistent with this responsibility and as required by law, the Board shall adopt and maintain an accountability program to measure the adequacy and efficiency of the educational program.

In accordance with state law, the Board shall appoint or create a process for the election of a district accountability committee and shall determine if members shall be appointed or elected to school accountability committees. If elected, the Board shall create a process for the election of school accountability committees. See the accompanying regulation. The district accountability committee and school accountability committees shall have those powers and duties prescribed by state law. The Board and the district accountability committee shall, at least annually, cooperatively determine the areas and issues, in addition to budget issues, that the district accountability committee shall study and the issues on which it may make recommendations to the Board.

All district accountability committee meetings and school accountability committee meetings shall be open to the public. Meeting notices for district accountability committee meetings shall be posted in the same place and manner as notices of Board meetings. Notices for school accountability committee meetings shall be posted in the school.

(Adoption date)

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-2-117 (waivers from State Board of Education)

C.R.S. 22-11-101 et seq. (Education Accountability Act of 2009)

C.R.S. 22-11-301 and 302 (district accountability committee)

C.R.S. 22-11-401 and 402 (school accountability committees)

C.R.S. 24-6-402 (open meetings law)

1 CCR 301-1, Rules 2202-R-1.00 et seq. (accreditation rules)

CROSS REFS.: AEA, Standards Based Education

AED*, Accreditation

AEE*, Waiver of State Law and Regulation

DBD, Determination of Budget Priorities

NOTE 1: The Board may consider applying to the State Board of Education for a waiver of certain provisions of law or state regulations which in the Board´s discretion it believes necessary to accomplish the purposes of the accountability program. For districts with a funded count of 3,000 or more pupils, such application requires the consent of a majority of the appropriate accountability committee and of the affected teachers and licensed administrators. Such a waiver, if granted, shall continue indefinitely unless the Board requests revocation of the waiver or the State Board of Education revokes the waiver for good and just cause. 1 CCR 301-35, 2217-R-2.02. See policy AEE*, Waiver of State Law and Regulation.

NOTE 2: The Colorado Department of Education has created a District Accountability Handbook that provides an overview of accountability requirements for districts and schools.

[Revised November 2015]