Standards Implementation Resources for Colorado

Transforming Standards-Based Learning to Ensure That Colorado's Students are College, Career, and Citizenship Ready

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, more than 475 educators attended the Colorado Standards Implementation Summit to gain the knowledge and resources necessary to successfully implement  the standards that can ensure that Colorado’s students achieve post-secondary and workforce readiness.

This daylong comprehensive and collaborative work session event engaged district teams in

• Identifying roles for all stakeholders in transforming their district, school, or classroom for 21st century standards–based education to ensure post-secondary and workforce readiness for all students.
• Participating in interactive sessions to learn about and share successful implementation strategies and practices with colleagues from Colorado and around the nation.
• Understanding the importance of a whole child approach to education in setting the foundation for success from preschool through college and career choices.
• Understanding the role of the Common Core State Standards as a part of the Colorado Academic Standards.

Colorado Standards Implementation Summit Presentations

Welcome and Opening Remarks (PDF)

Robert Hammond, Colorado Commissioner for Education, Colorado Department of Education
Diana Sirko, Deputy Commissioner, Colorado Department of Education
Melissa Colsman, Executive Director for Teaching and Learning, Colorado Department of Education

Hammond, Sirko, and Colsman opened the summit with an overview of the Colorado initiative and inspirational words to lay the foundation for the day ahead.

Colorado Standards Implementation Summit: Registration Survey Results

Efrain Mercado Jr., ASCD

Colorado Standards Implementation Summit attendees filled out an implementation survey as a part of their registration for the event. In this presentation, Mercado explains the results of the survey, revealing to participants their level of comfort and knowledge with the new standards. ASCD plans to use this information to provide support for Colorado educators and to inform coming professional development and resources from ASCD.

Transforming Instruction Through Standards-Based Teaching and Learning: Shifts Required for Students to Become Post-Secondary and Workforce-Ready (PDF)

Sandra Alberti, Student Achievement Partners

How do you transform instruction through standards-based teaching and learning? This plenary session explored the shifts required for students to become post-secondary and workforce ready.

The Evolution of Classroom Instruction for the Colorado and Common Core State Standards: Reading, Writing, and Communicating (PDF) 

Sandra Alberti, Student Achievement Partners

How can the instructional shifts necessitated by the new standards be implemented in the reading, writing, and communicating classroom? This session walked participants through sample lesson plans for reading, writing, and communicating.

Colorado Content Collaboratives Update (PDF) and Colorado Educator Effectiveness (PDF)

Katy Anthes, Colorado Department of Education
Angela Norlander, Colorado Department of Education

Were you unable to attend the Colorado Educator Effectiveness Summit: SB 191 in Action? This session provided a brief overview of the March 5 summit and presented an update on the work of the content collaboratives.In addition, participants will receive an update on the work of the content collaboratives.

Prioritizing Professional Development: Utilizing Free Resources and Expertise Within Your School System (PDF)

Stephanie Hartman, Colorado Department of Education
Sherida Britt, ASCD

How can you leverage the free resources coming to Colorado educators? This session assisted participants' professional development decision-making processes around the new standards.

Update on National Policy Implications of the Common Core State Standards and Colorado's NCLB Waiver (PDF)

Margaret Reed Millar, Council of Chief State School Officers
Keith Owen, Colorado Department of Education

What progress have states made in transitioning to the new standards? This session explored next steps in standards implementation at the national level, including an update on new science standards; the latest on the common core assessment consortia; and an update on Colorado’s NCLB waiver.

Collaboration to Implement All Standards for All Students: Leveraging Internal and External Partners to Maximize Learning Opportunities (PDF)

Brian Sevier, Colorado Department of Education
Amy Engelman, Colorado Department of Education
Liliana Graham, Colorado Department of Education
Karol Gates, Colorado Department of Education

What collaborative opportunities and resources exist for helping districts implement all standards for all students? This session highlighted examples of existing and potential partners within the broader Colorado community and identified the key resources available through these kinds of collaborative opportunities. Participants left with strategies for identifying potential partnerships that would strengthen their transition to the Colorado Academic and English Language Proficiency Standards.

Transitioning to the New Colorado Standards (PDF)

Melissa Colsman, Colorado Department of Education
Mary Pittman, Colorado Department of Education

What are the key components to include in a transition plan to the new Colorado standards? Successfully implementing the standards requires careful planning around curriculum, instruction, professional development, organizational design, communication, and collaboration. Participants were provided a planning tool to help them continue this work in their districts.

The Whole Child Approach to Education: Each Child in Colorado Post-Secondary, Workforce, and Citizenship Ready (PDF)

Molly McCloskey, ASCD

What are the demands of the 21st century that require a new approach to education? Today, the true measure of student success is more than a test score, and ensuring that young people achieve in and out of school requires support well beyond effective academic instruction. A whole child approach to education enhances learning by addressing each student’s social, emotional, physical, and academic needs through the shared contributions of schools, families, communities, and policymakers.

The Common Core of a Whole Child Approach (PDF)

Molly McCloskey, ASCD
Katie Hill, ASCD
Amy Engelman, Colorado Department of Education

Want to hear more about the whole child approach? This session provided participants a deeper dive into the topics of the plenary session delivered by Molly McCloskey and Colorado-specific initiatives.

All Standards Through Academic Language: An Essential Instructional Practice for the Success of All Students (PDF)

Liliana Graham, Colorado Department of Education
Barry Cartwright, Colorado Department of Education

How can leveraging academic language ensure access for all students to all standards? Academic language is an essential but underused aspect of best practice teaching. This session provided participants with a framework for developing academic language in all classrooms.

Principal’s Panel: Understanding the Role of Being an Effective Instructional Leader Through Reform Efforts

Jerri Crispe, Colorado Legacy Foundation
Doris Candelaire, Boulder Valley School District
Brent Curtice, Moffat School District
Carrie Coats, Delta County School District
Karol Gates, Colorado Department of Education

What are the strategies for leading your school through the implementation of the new Colorado Standards? This principal panel gave participants a sense of the challenges associated with being an effective instructional leader during this transitional time.

The Thinking Classroom: Transforming Educational Experiences Through 21st Century Skills (PDF)

Stephanie Hartman, Colorado Department of Education
Becky Smith, Colorado Department of Education

What does the thinking classroom look, feel, and sound like for both teachers and students? Transforming curriculum, instructional practices, and student learning through the use of 21st century skills leads students to mastery of the standards. This session provided strategies and instructional resources for supporting the transformation of teaching and learning.

The Evolution of Classroom Instruction for the Colorado and Common Core State Standards: Mathematics (PDF)

Sandra Alberti, Student Achievement Partners

How can the instructional shifts necessitated by the new standards be implemented in the mathematics classroom? This session walked participants through sample lesson plans for mathematics.

Unpacking the Mystery of Text Complexity (PDF)

Dana Hall, Colorado Department of Education

What type of texts will increase reading achievement most effectively? What texts motivate students to read more and develop a lifelong enjoyment of reading? By guiding students to text that fits them, teachers can promote high expectations and gratifying reading experiences for students. This session provided a framework for ensuring that students have access to the appropriate texts and scaffolding needed to support growth.