File: AED* - Accreditation

The Board of Education believes its primary responsibility is to provide leadership in the area of student achievement. To foster greater accountability and enhance improvement in student achievement, the Board shall enter into an accreditation contract with the State Board of Education regarding district accreditation and shall accredit the schools within the district.

District accreditation

The accreditation contract shall bind the Board to manage the district and its schools to meet certain standards, goals and requirements over the term of the contract, in accordance with the Education Accountability Act of 2009 and applicable State Board of Education rules.

In conjunction with accreditation, the Board is committed to adopting academic standards for student learning, achievement performance levels, systems for measuring student achievement and methods for improving student achievement.

School accreditation

While the state accredits the district, the Board accredits the schools within the district, including district charter schools. The Board directs the superintendent to develop a school accreditation process for the Board´s input and approval. Such process shall be developed in accordance with the Education Accountability Act of 2009.

Pursuant to the Board´s constitutional and statutory authority to control instruction in its schools and determine the allocation of district resources, the Board shall review and approve all school plans, regardless of whether the plan is a performance, improvement, priority improvement or turnaround plan. Each school plan shall be submitted to the Colorado Department of Education in accordance with the timelines prescribed by applicable State Board of Education rules.

Adopted December 4, 2001

Revised January 24, 2006

Revised January 9, 2007

Revised February 23, 2010

Revised March 22, 2011

Revised June 5, 2012

Revised January 14, 2014

Revised March 10, 2015

Revised February 8, 2016

Revised August 21, 2023

LEGAL REFS.: Colo. Const. Art. IX, Sect. 15 (board has control of instruction within the district)

C.R.S. 22-7-1013(1) (adoption of academic standards)

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

C.R.S. 22-11-307 (board accreditation of district schools)

C.R.S. 22-30-105 (school district organization planning process)

C.R.S. 22-30.5-104 (2)(b) (district charter schools subject to accreditation by local Board)

C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(t) (Board duty to determine educational program and prescribe textbooks)

C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(mm) (Board duty to adopt policy for accreditation of district schools)

C.R.S. 22-32-142 (2) (parent notice, public meeting and public hearing requirements for schools on priority improvement or turnaround status)

1 CCR 301-1 (State Board of Education rules for the Administration of the Accreditation of School Districts)

1 CCR 301-71 (State Board of Education rules for the Administration, Certification and Oversight of Colorado Online Programs)

CROSS REFS.: AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment

AE-R, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment (Complaint and Compliance Process) - Regulation

AEA, Standards Based Education

IHBK*, Preparation for Postsecondary and Workforce Success

IK, Academic Achievement

IKA, Grading/Assessment Systems

KB, Parent and Family Engagement in Education