Colorado schools still pursuing federal education goal

Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 9, 2006 at midnight

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Colorado schools were essentially stagnant over last year on a federal measure of progress toward educating all children, the state education department reported today.

The report shows that 60 percent of Colorado's 178 school districts were making "adequate yearly progress" in meeting the federal standard, up from 59 percent last year. Ninety one percent of schools met at least 90 percent of their educational goals. Last year, 90 percent of the districts met 90 percent of their goals.

None of the 15 districts in the Denver metro area made adequate yearly progress.

However, detailed figures showed some progress by schools in improving scores of ethnic minorities, one of the measures used to determine progress toward the federal objective.

For example, Hispanic students achieved learning goals in reading at all levels in Brighton, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Englewood, Five Star (Northglenn-Thornton), Littleton and Sheridan. Hispanics met math goals at all levels in Englewood, Douglas County and Littleton.

The goals, set by the state education department, are based on test scores and graduation rates. Districts must show that subgroups of students — such as handicapped students, students from poor families or minorities — are making progress in meeting the goals.

The goals increase in difficulty until the 2013-14 school year, when all students must show proficiency on achievement tests.

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